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After a quick shower, I dry off and switch out my insulin pod. Each pod lasts two to three days, and then it’s time for a replacement. Once that’s done, I blow dry my hair.
Today, I’m wearing one of my favorite comfy outfits—black leggings, short black boots, a black skirt, and a sapphire-blue silk blouse with long sleeves. It’s too hot out for long sleeves, but I can’t bare my arms. I pull my hair up into a high pony so it’s out of the way and put on a pair of gold hoop earrings. A light foundation of make-up does a decent job of covering the bruises on my face.
I study my reflection in the bathroom mirror from multiple angles and count the number of bruises that are still visible, even after almost two weeks. They look like faint shadows on my face. Lastly, I apply kohl eyeliner, some smokey-blue eyeshadow, and a bit of lip gloss.
When it’s time to go downstairs, I grab my backpack and go get Jason. Just as I’m about to knock on his door, it opens, and there he is dressed and ready. As soon as he spots me, his dark eyes widen, and I’m not sure if it’s because he thinks I look good, or because I look bad.
You look hideous. Ugly. So ugly.
Self-consciously, I touch my face. “Does it look bad?”
He shakes his head. “No. You look… wow.” Then he glances away, almost bashfully. “What I mean is, good job with the make-up. I can hardly see the bruises.”
Jason is dressed in blue jeans and a gray T-shirt that is molded to his torso. The shirt clings to his muscled chest and the outline of his chiseled biceps. His arms are bare and his tattoos are visible for a change.
My heart flutters in my chest as my pulse kicks up, and suddenly I’m finding it difficult to catch my breath. It might be low blood sugar, but I think it’s more likely just the effect he has on me.
He checks his watch. “Perfect timing. I was just coming to get you. Ready to go?”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. “Mm-hmm.”
“Let’s go, then.” He switches off the light in his room as he follows me out the door. We head toward the stairs. “I’ll carry that,” he says, slipping my backpack off my shoulder and onto his. “How’d you sleep last night?”
“Fine,” I answer, surprised that it’s true.
“I’m glad to hear it.” We take the stairs. “Please tell me we’re grabbing some breakfast before we leave for campus. I’m famished, and you need to eat.”
I laugh. “Margaret won’t let me leave the house unless I’ve had breakfast. And I have to take my meds.”
We head for the kitchen, where we find Margaret seated at the table.
“Good morning,” she says with a smile. She waves toward the buffet. “Help yourselves.”
I head for the breakfast spread and grab a plate and move down the line, taking a little bit of this and a little bit of that—mostly protein, one slice of buttered toast, and a tiny bit of fruit. I fill a tumbler with iced coffee, to which I add some non-sugar sweetener and sugar-free caramel creamer.
Jason loads up a plate with eggs and bacon and pours himself a cup of straight black coffee.
“I’m already spoiled,” Jason says as he takes the seat beside mine. “Before coming here, I was lucky to get cold cereal for breakfast.”
“Not in my kitchen, young man,” André says from across the room, waving a spatula in the air as he speaks.
Just as we start eating, Jason pulls out his phone to check my sugar level. He does it so quickly and quietly that I almost don’t notice. But going by the satisfied smile on Margaret’s face, she does.
After I eat, I take my psych medication. It helps lessen the frequency of the auditory hallucinations, but it doesn’t eliminate them completely.
Twenty minutes later, with my backpack slung over Jason’s shoulder, we head out the back door to the parking area.
“We’ll have to take my car.” He reaches down and pats his ankle holster. “I can’t carry my gun on campus, so I’ll have to lock it in the car safe.”
Jason opens my car door for me, and I slide in. Then he walks around to the driver’s side and climbs in. While he’s adjusting the driver’s seat, I receive a text message from my brother.
Ian: Good luck on your first day back to school. Tyler sends his love.
Smiling, I text him back.
Layla: Thank u both! What are you doing today?
Ian: Shooting practice at the range. LOL Me with a gun. Very entertaining for Tyler, trust me. And possibly dangerous.
