For what seems like forever, I continue checking my phone every other minute, hoping for what, I don’t know.
Marcus wouldn’t reply. If anything, he should be glad to have gotten rid of me.
The staff disappears, what remains of the car is loaded up and taken away, and soon enough, the area outside the garage is empty except for me and my now-dead phone.
The rain stops.
No, it doesn’t.
The reason it’s no longer soaking me is because someone is standing beside me, holding an umbrella over my head. At first, I think it’s Hayes, but Dad’s voice rings around me.
“You should get inside.”
I swallow thickly, the pain in my chest doubling and tripling, but I force a smile.
He looks so put together in his beige three-piece suit, his hair combed neatly, his face serene. Oh, how I wish I’d inherited his coldness. Life would’ve been so much easier.
“Finally decided to punish me?”
“Do you do these stunts so I’ll punish you?” He side-eyes me. “I thought it was to get my attention.”
I purse my lips, and he releases a long breath. “Well, you have it, Preston. What do you want?”
“A new doctor.”
“A new doctor?”
A droplet of rain falls from my hair to my cheek, sliding down to my mouth. “Yeah, the old one is a useless, judgmental crook. I thought you’d do better background checks before hiring my therapist.”
“Dr. Fenwick is not a crook.” He faces me, tilting the umbrella in my direction, and the rain soaks the shoulder of his jacket.
“Not him. I’m talking abouther.”
“Who’s her?”
“I only have one her, Dad. The fuck?”
“No, there are a few female doctors who work with Dr. Fenwick. Did any of them make you feel judged?”
“Yup. Need her fired or, like, threatened a bit.” I grin. “Vencor style.”
“I’m going to need a name.”
“Dr. Duret.”
My dad freezes, his body going so impossibly still, it creeps me the fuck out. When he speaks, it’s firm but a touch unsteady. “When was the last time you…uh, met her?”
“Earlier tonight.”
“And you first met her…where, exactly?”
“At Dr. Fenwick’s office, then at her place, remember?”
“Her place?”
“Yeah, the one outside of town. You even send Lenin to pick me up sometimes. You growing senile so soon or something?”
“Lenin,” he repeats emotionlessly.
