Page 148 of Her Wicked Plan

I don’t allow him to say another word before leaving his office, hoping he follows me. As I make my way to the lobby, where Edith probably is, I find it hard to ignore that itch inside of me, the one that wants to fly off the handles and hurt someone whenever I’m angry.

I’m furious that Leo went behind my back and invited my sister for a visit. Maybe I would have found the courage to decide for myself someday, but when would that have been?

Next week? Years from now?

Another thing that makes me angry is that, even though I’m mad at him, I don’t want to be mad at him. That’s never happened before with anyone.

I understand he is my doctor, trying to do what is right for me—what he thinks is best for me. I have to keep telling myself that so I don’t flip out on the next person who looks at me wrong.

The door opens easily, and I see Edith sitting behind her computer. Luckily, the two girls that usually live on those couches aren’t in here now.

Could you imagine if they overheard what I was about to ask? The way they would spread rumors to start shit? What might happen in those showers won’t be rumors, but they don’t need to know that.

“Hi, Edith.” I lean my shoulder against the open door frame, which does not have a door attached.

“Veronica,” she greets me. “How are you holding up?”

“Oh, you know what they say: after spending time in solitaire, you come back crazier.” I shrug. “I’m actually in need of a shower. Full works.”

Edith huffs out a breath of frustration. Not with me, but with the work piled up in front of her, stacks of papers looking like they might tumble over at any moment.

“Veronica, I sadly do not have the time to supervise your shower. I’m rushing to get all this information for Dr. Bennett’s meeting, which I must sit in on. Can you shave another day?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t.” I sigh dramatically. “If I have to walk around with my legs feeling like a cactus, I might lose it.”

Edith hangs her head low, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingertips. Letting out a long breath, she lifts her gaze to me, and then I watch her eyes dart behind me.

Turning to look over my shoulder, Leo stands there with his hands tucked into his pocket.

“Oh, Leo. I didn’t see you standing there,” Edith states.

“I only just got here,” he responds.

Had he? I heard his footsteps behind me as I walked, but I never saw him come into the lobby with me. “Perfect timing, Dr. Madden! I was telling Edith how I needed to shower. It needs to be supervised, and she is too busy.”

“What are you suggesting?” he questions. Oh, he is playing along so well.

Taking my eyes off him, I look back at Edith, who is rummaging through more paperwork. “Dr. Madden can supervise. Right, Edith?”

Her hands stop, turning to face me as she stares over her glasses. “I mean, he is qualified, seeing he is your doctor, but...”

“You wouldn’t mind?” I spin to stare at Leo. “I’ll try to be as quick as I can so you don’t have to stand out in the hall super bored.”

“If it will take some stress off Edith, then I don’t mind,” his response elicits a giddy smile from me. One that Edith can’t see.

“Fine.” Edith huffs, standing up with the stack of papers tucked into her chest. “Usually, we have to watch them shower to ensure they do nothing stupid.” She narrows her eyes at me. My hands fly up in defense, and then she focuses back on Leo. “Seeing that would be inappropriate. You must stand outside the bathroom. Keep your ears sharp.”

“Wrong choice of words there, Edith,” I joke.

Rolling her eyes, she walks around me and through the lobby door.

Spinning on my heels, I wink at Leo and push past him. “Piece of cake.”

I walk down the hall with Leo following behind me. We pass the bathrooms, and I hear the squeak of Leo’s shoes as he stops. “Where are you going?”

Stopping, I turn to him and say, “I need to get my brush, shampoo, and conditioner. Do you really think my curls look good because of the shit they provide us?” I lift the ends of my hair. “I had to beg Edith to order me products that will help me look like I hadn’t been electrocuted.”

The corner of his lips lifts, and he chuckles. “I’ll wait here while you grab your things.”