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The tension in his shoulders diminishes, but the pain etched on his face is unmistakable.
“You two are together, right?”
He shrugs and then shakes his head, and a painful throb pulses through my heart.
“When did you two break up?”I mumble, hugging the frame close to my heart and closing my eyes.
“Technically, we never talked about that.But he just hates my fucking guts.”
I flutter my eyes open and scrutinize him.“Are you certain about that?”
He laughs.“Oh, believe me.Things are fucked up between us.We barely acknowledge each other.He tells me to go and fuck myself, but when I show up at his doorstep—” He presses his lips together, taking a long sip of air.“We often have angry, painful sex.”
I shake my head, a lump forming in my throat as I think about the pain they’ve inflicted on each other, the pain that I saw mirrored in Grey’s eyes.That’s what I witnessed, Grey’s animosity toward Sanford, but there’s definitely more.
“No one helped him after the kidnapping?”I venture to ask, my voice trembling slightly.“Thea should have done something.She’s a therapist and his mother.”
Thea Decker is one of the reasons I wanted to become a therapist.She was my role model.Why wouldn’t she help Greyson?
Sanford merely shrugs.“They’ve tried,” he replies, his voice barely a whisper.“At least, I think they did.But it’s difficult to tell when they want to keep me away from him.”
“But that’s impossible.You two adored each other.I could see that since the first time you two kissed.”My voice breaks a little at the end, my heart aching for the two men that mean more to me than I can articulate.“Why?”
Today was supposed to be just another day in the life of Aerin.It certainly didn’t include counseling one of the men that meant the entire world to me.This is worse than feeling like I’m about to lose everything I’ve built—again.
Sanford lets out a tired sigh, ruffling his longish hair with one hand.“Have you had breakfast yet?”
“No,” I admit, shaking my head.“Can we make some breakfast?”
“I’m not sure if we have food,” he responds, handing me his phone.“Why don’t you order something from Market Express?”
“Password?”I ask, my fingers hovering over the screen.
“It’s still your birthday.”
I can’t help but let out a soft scoff, my heart fluttering in my chest.“Okay, so you haven’t moved on from your past relationships.That might explain many things,” I say, ordering a chai tea latte, coffee for him, a couple of breakfast sandwiches and pastries.
With the food ordered, I plop down onto the bed.“What’s the plan, James Bond?”I quip, trying to lighten the mood.“I can’t hide forever.Plus, today I’m on call, and you destroyed my phone.”
“Sorry.”He flinches.“Lang will replace it for you soon.What are you on call for?”
“Did someone mention my name?”Lang asks.His timing always got under my skin, but today, I’m surprisingly relieved to see him.
“He says you’re going to magically appear with a new phone,” I tease, raising a challenging eyebrow in his direction.
“Here’s your new phone.”His smug grin is annoying.“It has the old number, but no one can track you.By the way, you have several texts about a patient screening.”
Anxiety tightens my chest.“I need to leave.”
“You can’t,” San says with steely determination.His expression hardens too.
“It could be a life-or-death situation,” I protest, glancing down at my clothes.“This is like one of those nightmares when you arrive at work naked or in pajamas.”
“We have enough people looking after her,” Lang states.“She’ll be fine as long as we’re cautious.”
“I’m not sure.”San remains unconvinced, his stance unwavering.
“She can raid Nat’s or Nydia’s closets.They’re at your disposal,” Lang says, glancing at me, and ignoring Sanford’s concerns.“There’s probably something that’ll fit you.”
