“Drea?”
Cade’s concerned stare bores into me.
“Hmm?”
“You’re acting like me during an episode.”
I choke on a laugh.
He snatches my chin. “I’m serious. Do you need to go to the doctor?”
“No, no,” I insist, scooting away.
He’s not convinced.
Beeping. A click. Then the door to the apartment swings in.
Fuck.Me.
Wide, disbelieving brown eyes lock on mine. Cradled in each of Sebastian’s defined arms are two small potted plants: one with yellow flowers and the other…
My heart lodges in my throat.
Orange blossoms.
I’m cracking down the middle. I’ve known, in my core, who leaves them at my door. I’ve known but could never bring myself to discard them— just simply brought them inside, hung them upside down and waited for them to dry before arranging them in one of the thrifted vases scattered around my apartment like a morbid shrine.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Seba rasps, carefully setting the plants on the counter. Glancing at Cade, “Baby.” Then to the open laptop. “What’re you two up to?”
Cade pops up from the couch. “Took you long enough. I almost locked us out of the computer.”
Seba’s brows knit. “Wha?—”
“You’ve gotta show her,” Cade insists, borderline manic as he climbs over my legs to get around the coffee table, sliding in his socks over to his stepbrother. Seba catches him before he crashes into the kitchen island.
“Whoa, slow down. Meds first.”
Cade rolls his eyes, yanking the duffel off Seba’s shoulder and jamming his arm elbow-deep into it, muttering, “What do you think I’m doing?” He rummages around for a minute before pulling out a pill box and shaking it like a maraca. “Now show her!”
Seba sighs, sneaking a look in my direction.
I’m stuck in tar— desperate to flee but gluedin place.
His throat rolls with a swallow. “There’s no need.”
“The fuck do you mean?” Cade shrieks.
Everything is on fire— around me, inside me— but I’m so cold. Cold and numb. Seba looks directly into my eyes and says, “She’s seen it all.”
An invisible snake wraps around my throat, constricting tighter… and tighter…
I can’t breathe.
I can’t be here.
I can’t be.
I can’t.
