His grip is strong, his hand warm, and that warmth travels up my arm so fast it’s telling my nerves to pay attention. I let go before that feeling makes it past my shoulder.
“We… we have our first session tomorrow morning. It’ll be a chance for us to get to know each other and see how Arcadia can support you. I’m an alternative healer and I study psychology, so I will be able to guide you and refer you to specialists.”
Still nothing from him. No words, no hello, not even a smile.
Calvin steps in. “Jay assumed you would treat him, Erin.”
I blink. Jay is his brother, isn’t he?
Erin jumps in. “Yosh is the best. He’s highly qualified and has experience with complex cases like this. I assure you, Tom is in excellent hands.”
Complex cases.
My face burns like I’ve just been slapped, and it’s the first time I see Tom actually flinch.
Erin should know better. That hurts. For him. For me. For everyone who’s ever been labeled like that and reduced to a diagnosis instead of a person.
Calvin glances down at Tom. “Jay won’t be happy when he finds out.”
Tom’s laugh comes fast and unapologetic. “Fuck Jay. He isn’t here, right?”
He takes off his sunglasses and those eyes… Oh my god. Sapphire blue, bluer than the Caribbean ocean beside us.
There are so many things hiding behind them; pain, exhaustion, and something stubborn that refuses to break.
My breath burns hot in my throat. I take a step backward and I’m grateful for the sudden breeze blowing through my hair.
Calvin throws his hands in the air. “Fine, but I’m not going to be the one telling Jay.”
“He’ll find out. Or not.” Tom smiles as he nods his chin toward me. “I want him.”
“Okay, uh, that’s set,” I hear myself say. “We’ll discuss everything tomorrow.”
Tom nods at me in approval, his eyes locked on me. It’s driving me insane.
Why is he staring? What is he trying to do? It sets off a wave of panic in my chest, and before I fully think it through, I do something I’d never imagined myself doing again: I reach for my phone and discreetly call my own pager. Within seconds, it starts beeping.
“Is it yours?” I ask Erin, feigning confusion as I pat my pocket.
She gives me a weird look. “No, it’s yours.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tom failing to suppress a grin. My body tenses. I shoot him an annoyed look.
“Yes, sorry about that.” I hold up the pager. “You’ll have to excuse me. They need me in the infirmary.”
“It was nice meeting you… Doctor.” Tom lifts his chin, and the tone in his voice makes it clear he knows. And he definitely wants me to know that he knows.
I force a fake smile. “Nice to meet you too, Tom. I look forward to getting to know you better.”
I offer the rest of them an awkward nod. “Erin. Calvin.”
I make my escape. As I walk away, I can still feel Tom’s eyes burning into my back.
Doctor, he said, so sarcastically it might as well have been an insult.
The path under the palm trees feels cooler, at least physically. I let out a long sigh, sliding the pager out of my pocket again as if I actually need to check it.
I catch my reflection in the glass of a door. I look calm, at least on the surface. But beneath that? I’m about to fall apart.
