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“I understand, Doctor. I’m not currently under the care of a psychiatrist, but I have one I can begin seeing again. A psychologist, too.”
I don’t think I need to go back on medication or have more talk therapy at the moment, but I’m calling both to make sure I’m right. I never want to experience something this severe ever again. If either of them says I need help, I’m taking the first available appointment.
“Good. I wish you well, Ms. O’Malley.”
“Thank you.”
Once he’s gone, Gabriele reaches for a clear hospital bag I hadn’t noticed. He lays out all my clothes at the foot of the bed, my shoes right below. The kind of quiet he is now— I’m not sure if he’s retreated and withdrawn or just giving me time to breathe.
“Gabe?”
He looks up at me and waits.
“Did something just change between us?”
His brow furrows.
“No.”
“Then why do I get the feeling you’re being distant?”
“Because the doctor didn’t ask you if I should step out before discussing your care. If you’d wanted to tell me what he said, you would have. He didn’t give you the chance to have a private conversation. I feel bad.”
“But that wasn’t anything secret.”
He shrugs.
“Maybe not, but you are well enough to decide things on your own. It was presumptuous on his part and mine to stay. I still feel bad.”
I can only sit and stare. Last night, he had his tongue up my hoo-ha, and now, he’s embarrassed that the doctor said I should talk to another doctor. I laugh. I can’t help it.
“Gabe, you didn’t invade my privacy. But I appreciate that you care enough for it to bother you. If I hadn’t wanted you to hear any of it, I would have asked you to leave. Even if it had been something more private, I’m glad you were there. If it had been something scary, I would have appreciated your support.”
We don’t get to say anything else since the nurse arrives. She goes over my discharge orders after I tell Gabe to stay. I have no choice but to put the clothes I was wearing last night back on, and we stop by the hospital pharmacy on the way out. I checked my phone and saw Ashley’s text with hotel and car service information. I don’t want to wait around for a car to get me, but I show Gabriele the hotel confirmation. He tells his driver where to take us. On our way to the hotel, I text Marta the truth, and she responds that someone is already there. I don’t see him, but Gabriele does.
“The one in the khakis and red polo shirt. He’s your bodyguard.”
Gabriele nudges his chin toward a man sitting on a sofa in the lobby, angled to see the doors and the elevator. He’s in shape, but he’s nowhere near Gabriele’s size. He looks like a scrawny tween in comparison. When he stands, he’s close to Gabriele’s height, which puts him at least six inches taller than me. He spots us. His gaze takes me in, but he’s fixing his attention on Gabriele. Something’s off.
“Do you know him?”
“Yes.”
I wait for more.
“And?”
“He’ll do for appearance’s sake.”
“Should it scare me to only have him protecting me?”
“You’ll never have only him. I already texted Carmine in the car while you were looking out the window. The hotel’s arranging for us to have the rooms beside and across from you.”
“How can you do that? There are probably people already staying in them.”
“Hotel maintenance issue.”
They have the influence to make people switch hotel rooms. I watch the man with a deep suntan and dark hair approach. Gabriele’s standing close to me, but not enough to touch. I wish he was since I’m filled with trepidation. I watch Gabriele extend his arm to this man.
