Page 141 of Her Wicked Plan

“You don’t have a say in that, Veronica.” I try to keep my voice steady. “If I have to leave and another doctor has to step in, you must deal with it.”

She only nods. Her throat must hurt too much to speak.

“What will you do when I have to leave again?” I kneel in front of her while her stare remains on the tops of her thighs. “Get yourself sent here? Who knows how long Dr. Bennett will leave you here next time.”

“I won’t...”

“He’s talking about sending you to another ward, Veronica!” I finally snap, losing the semi-calm tone in my voice. “One where you will have less freedom.” Dropping my voice into a harsh whisper, I say, “Where we would have less freedom.”

Her eyes snap up to meet mine. God, she looks exhausted. Tears fill her eyes as she shakes her head. “No. I can’t. He can’t send me to another ward.”

“Then stop with the bullshit!” My hands find her thighs, fingers digging into the material of her sweats. “Stop trying to prove something to the others. To yourself or me! Do you think I want you to move to a more secure ward?” The tears stream from her eyes. “If you show no progress with me, then they will find another doctor to care for you. I can’t let that happen, Vee. I can’t... I...”

I’m breaking down right before her, and no matter how hard I attempt to stop the emotions from rolling out of me, I’m struggling. Veronica’s breath shudders at the sight of me, hands lying flat on mine. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head in response. My mouth won’t open. I won’t allow it because if I speak, I’ll cry.

“Leo?” Veronica raises her hands to hold my face; her scratchy voice almost sounds soothing. “What happened?”

My head shakes again, my mouth twisting while I attempt to control myself, but when I glance up at her, the pure concern in her eyes, I break. “My mother’s dying.”

Veronica doesn’t utter a single word as she pulls me into her. My forehead rests against her chest, and I’m crying. She rubs her hand along my back, reassuring me it’s going to be okay as the tears cascade relentlessly down my face.

“It won’t be okay.” The words muffle against her shirt.

She pushes my head back to make eye contact. “I don’t have a great relationship with my mother, so I won’t sit here and lie, saying I understand how you’re feelings.”

“Then you don’t get to sit here and try to tell me everything will be all right.” I back away from her.

Standing, I wipe the tears off my face, although I want her to continue to hold me. I want her arms combing through my hair as she attempts to comfort me. Veronica’s comfort feels like a warm blanket wrapped around you on a freezing cold day.

I laugh to myself. A girl who claims to have no heart, comforting me while mine breaks.

Veronica stands, heading over to me and takes my trembling hands in hers. “Then it won’t be okay, but Leo, you are strong. It’s going to hurt like a bitch, and your entire world will feel like it’s crashing down.” She lightly squeezes my hand. “You will get through it because you have your sister. You have Myles.” Her eyes drop to the floor, inhaling deeply before meeting my curious stare. “You have me. I will be here to help pick up the pieces of your shattered heart.”

My eyes search hers for any hint of dishonesty but only find the truth. She means it. Truth sears through her stare, and it does something to me. To have someone who is not family care for you like this?

I’ve had no one other than my family. I have never been with a girl long enough for her to care for me the way Veronica genuinely does.

What kind of shit is this? Why has God dealt me this fucked up hand in my life? A woman that I could never have unless circumstances were different. A woman who cares for me when she doesn’t extend that luxury to anyone else.

Folding my hands over hers, I tug Veronica inward until our mouths crash into each other. All that stress from being alone here, all that fear, rolls off her as I press my lips desperately on hers.

She moans softly when I part her lips with my tongue, and as soon as mine glides over hers, I realize how much I missed this—how much I missed her sweet taste.

Before I take this too far, I step away. The dim lighting from the hall cascades over the side of her face. Her pupils dilate, and her full lips part as she catches her breath. Veronica looks ethereal. A devil disguised as an angel. Satan sent her up from the Hell beneath our feet himself to fuck up my life.

I reach my hand up, tucking a messy strand of hair behind her ear. “Please behave from now on, little angel. I’d hate for you to lose your freedom.”

“My restricted freedom.” She jokes with a sad smile. “I don’t want to be moved to another ward. I’ve already been to a different one, and I hated it. There’s no way I’ll be doing that again.”

“And down here?” There is no point in telling her that ward she was sent to in the past and hated is the same one she would go back to if she didn’t get her shit together.

“I’ll admit my idea was idiotic. One that I plan on not repeating. This is my last time down here, Leo. I promise.”

“Those are only words,” I remind her. “Promises in the form of words are too easy to break.”

She agrees with a bob of her head. “Then I’ll have to use actions to promise you this.”