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He pats my back as I step down from the treadmill and heads toward the door. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t expect a ton of chitchat. Prestin is like a gargoyle.”
My lips pull up into a smile. “What a weird comparison.”
He shrugs and nudges me. “See you at lunch?”
I nod as we part ways in the hall. I watch Lanston until he vanishes down the stairs. Did I just make my first friend here?
The first friend I’ve had in a long time.
* * *
Dr. Prestin’s office is in the corner of the second floor, facing the front of the mansion. It’s bright with multiple windows lining both sides of the room. His desk is fancy, made of dark, glossy oak. His doctorate degree hangs behind him, along with many trophies he’s apparently won for his research in mental health.
“How are you acclimating, Miss Coldfox?” Dr. Prestin looks at me through his thick-framed glasses. He certainly looks just as tired and impassive as he did when I met him at the hospital.
“Good,” I state plainly.
He writes down a few sentences in the file before shifting back in his seat and threading his fingers together in thought.
“Do you find your roommate suitable? Waters is your partner, correct?”
“He’s… fine. That’s correct.”
God, he talks about us like we’re lab rats. I suppose we probably are rats to him, the people he steps on to get those blood trophies he’s so proud, hanging from insignificant nails on his gray walls.
“Fine? Waters is probably our most deviant patient and the hardest yet to cure. Surely, given your personality charts, you’ve already quarreled?” Dr. Prestin presses me.
My fists clench at my sides and I can’t keep the disdain from my voice as I say, “Yes, he’s beenfine. We’ve disagreed on a few things, but it’s manageable.”
Do it for James. Do it to get better,I scold myself.
Dr. Prestin watches me for several moments before nodding. “I see. Very good.”
He spends the rest of the session talking about new medications he would like to try and boring psychological stuff that I don’t understand the majority of. Then he sends me off with a stiff nod and a “See you next week.”
I grab an apple and a wrapped Italian sandwich at the buffet. There are tons of available tables but I venture out into the courtyard for some fresh air. The three-foot stone wall lining the garden bed is dry, so I take a seat and wipe the apple off with my shirt before taking a bite.
The marigolds and mums are bright yellow and orange, a nice contrast to the dark, gloomy weather we’ve been having. I enjoy sitting in solitude. Some people hate it, feel vulnerable even, but there’s nothing more peaceful than embracing your own silence. Only you exist, no one else.
“Hey, I was looking for you in there.” Lanston’s cheerful voice draws my attention away from the garden flowers and I see Yelina and Liam in tow behind him.
So much for solitude.
“It’s a nice afternoon so I thought I’d get some fresh air.” I smile the best I can. Lanston and Yelina beam back at me and eagerly sit down while Liam just gives me a dirty, sarcastic smile that says he knows mine is fake.
I hate this man.
My eyes linger over his arm where I bandaged him up this morning. His hoodie hides it well and I’m sure no one suspects a thing.
Yelina eyes Liam as he sits next to me, so close that we’re touching shoulders.
“You can sit next to me,” Yelina chirps to him. Liam snags the apple from my hand and takes a bite. I take a deep breath and ignore him. Yelina’s brows pull together. “Do you know Wynn already?” Her green eyes lift to Liam.
He takes another bite of the apple and grins. “Yep.”
“They’re roommates, Yelina,” Lanston mutters as he unwraps his sandwich.
Her cheeks flush red and her eyes flash at me. I still, squeezing my sandwich harder than I intend to.
