Pary Barry & John- He Says, She Says: PB & J, #13

By Kamaryn Kelsey

Due to a recent incident at a car wash, Pary and John are mandated to see a counselor. Of course, they can't agree on anything, but the counselor is determined to get to the bottom of their real issues.

A parking lot mishap puts Pary in peril and John's newly developed sense of responsibility, for which he blames the counselor, kicks in. So while John tries to figure out what happened to Pary, she tries to remember what happened. Only John and the counselor know she sleepwalked through half the therapy- but don't know why. Pary knows why, but doesn't remember what happened during that time.

So how many people does it take to put together the puzzle? And is the counselor right about Pary and John?

"He Says, She Says" brings the pieces together, and starts to answer the questions about John and Pary's relationship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kamaryn Kelsey
• Release date: Jul 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386307433

Book preview

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real people, places, or events is purely coincidental.

This is not a stand alone book.

Chapter 1

Miss Barry, do you understand the terms of this court mandated counseling session? The counselor closely watched the average woman sitting on her couch. She had light brown shoulder length hair, gray eyes, and a few freckles. Inside, though...

Pary glared at the counselor with a nod.

I'm recording our session, so please vocalize your answers.

Isn't that an invasion of my privacy? Pary asked.

Oh, just shut up and answer the question, John snapped.

Don't be all crabby with me because I got the couch. You're the one who rushed through the door and grabbed what looked like a nice soft recliner. Just because it's hard as a rock, slippery, and doesn't recline isn't my fault! Pary replied with a sniff.

I think we're getting ahead of ourselves, the counselor said patiently. Miss Barry...

Yes! Pary yelled.

Please try to use your indoor voice, Miss Barry. There's no need to shout. May I call you Pary? Pary nodded, while the counselor ignored John's snort of laughter and turned to look at him with her brows raised.

Before she could speak, he said, Yes.

Mr. Smith, please wait until I've asked a question before responding. The counselor watched him as closely as she did Miss Barry. He was a handsome man, with dark brown hair scattered with a few grays, and brown eyes. Right now those eyes looked grumpy, with those brows down low. What was he hiding?

Uh, huh. That's typical, Pary mumbled. John has no patience. She gave him a snotty smile when the counselor jotted a few notes, then asked John the question she'd asked Pary to open the session, except in his case it was 'employer required' session.

He scowled and said, Yes, ma'am! And you can call me John. His tone of voice was just short of being insulting, or so he thought. The counselor was scribbling like mad on her notepad.

When she finished, she looked up and said, Thank you, John. Now, according to my report this whole issue started at... she looked at her notes, then back up, a car wash?

Yes!

No!

More scribbling. Miss Barry, would you elaborate?

I'd be glad to, Pary said, giving John a superior look. It started before the car wash incident. That's just where it came to a head.

Let's put on our fantasy hats, John mocked, and the counselor gave him a look of caution.

John's been rude and unfeeling since he moved in, Pary started, and the counselor interrupted.

When was that?

Almost a year ago. Now I can understand, he'd just come out on the bad end of a divorce, dumped by his beautiful wife for a really handsome and rich guy, so he was surly. I hoped he'd grow out of that. Like once he brought me balloons, but it was just a phase because he went right back to being mean, Pary said.

Mean?

"He calls me crazy (you are), says I'm fat (just once), insults my apartment (I'll stand by that one, as well), and he hurts my feelings." The counselor looked in John's direction, but he didn't add anything to Pary's last statement.

John, how do you feel about Pary's assessment?

"I think she's in the right place, but should be having this conversation one-on-one! She needs therapy."

Why do you say that?

John laughed out loud. I'm glad I'm not paying for this, doc, because you're about to become rich. Where should I start? She's nuts. Recently, she made me help her haul a wet pig suit and dump it behind a restaurant.

John, you're the one who poured water on it, not me, so it's half your fault, Pary reminded him. Besides, you made a date with me and dumped me at the last minute!

I did not. I asked you out to eat. Your crazy behavior made me realize that was a mistake, so I changed my mind. Not that it did any good, he complained.

Why, John? What happened?

We ended up at the same damn dinner, anyway, John yelled.

Use your indoor voice, Pary reminded him in a bossy tone.

Pary, how was the dinner?

Pary gave a snort. Ridiculous! Turns out Mrs. Pipe is fishing for a daughter-in-law, a wife for her son, Pete. She sent me an invitation, so I went. When I arrived, I saw she had invited three women for Pete to choose from. Her eyes narrowed. Pete invited John to take the heat off! And John had invited me to take the heat off him... before he cowardly backed out. Only he didn't know it was the same dinner. Mama Pipe wasn't happy.

Good lord! No one was happy, John said emphatically.

Well, don't blame the invited women. Pary turned to the counselor. Mrs. Pipe invited a small, a medium, and a large. Can you believe that?

I'm not following. Do you mean the gathering size?

No! I mean women size. It was humiliating, for all us women.

Pete and I weren't exactly on a Carnival Cruise, John muttered.

The counselor covered her mouth discreetly and asked Pary to continue.

"Well, I spiked her