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“We met ten minutes ago,” I say to refresh her memory. Her face remains blank. The woman’s clearly overworked. Either that, or her facial recognition abilities suck. “I think you guys made a mistake. I’m supposed to share my apartment with a girl, but there’s a guy in there.”

Her frown deepens as she regards me. I can almost see her brain trying to place me. “What’s your apartment number?”

“2B.”

“And you are?”

“Vicky Sullivan.”

Her manicured finger trails down the names on her list and begins to tap against one row at the bottom of the page. After a short pause, she glances up with a smile.

“Not a mistake, I’m afraid. Your roommate is Kaiden Wright.”

I stare at her, completely dumbfounded. She can’t have said what I think she just said. Someone made a mistake somewhere. After all, this is the LAA center.

Hello?

The Love Addicts Anonymous Center.

“But…” I shake my head. “I’m supposed to be here to get help.”

For…

There, I can’t even say the words.

LOVE ADDICTION.

It sounds so ugly. Sickening. Like an infectious disease.

Marlene doesn’t look at me full of pity or wrath. She smiles kindly, as if my supposed condition is something she’s dealing with on a regular basis.

“I’m pleased to say that we’ve placed you in our newest therapy program.” At my horrified expression, she pats my upper arm. “At first it might seem inconvenient that you’ve been paired with a male, but don’t worry. We know what we’re doing. Kade is going to be your partner. You’ll make a great team.”

“But he is male,” I protest.

Doesn’t she get the magnitude of it all?

Ican’tengage with a stranger in the kind of things Bruce and I should be experiencing, like living together and going to therapy.

This is just wrong.

“Correct.” She nods her head. Her glance sweeps to the waiting group behind her, and I realize I’m about to lose her. “You’re going to help each other. Isn’t that great?”

It’s immoral and wrong on so many levels, I can’t even begin to describe it. “Is that even allowed?”

“If you want to come out of this experience stronger and more independent, you need to triumph over your demons,” she says, her smile fading a little. “Living with him is going to be a test. And yes, I realize that it may seem somewhat unheard of, but this is our newest therapy plan which, without a single doubt, is going to be very successful.” She gives my hand a comforting squeeze. “Don’t worry. You will receive all the support you need.” She pauses for a second, as if unsure whether to throw in more information or not. Eventually, she leans forward, close enough to whisper so no one but me can hear her.

“Personally, I think it’s a bit counterproductive.” She smirks. “But I’m not the one who develops the therapy plans. It might help you to know that you two don’t suffer from the same kind of addiction.”

“Yeah?” The tension falls off a bit. “What is he here for?”

Drugs? Games? Sounds about right.

Maybe he’s one of those people who work too much.

I can deal with a workaholic.

“I’m not supposed to tell, but what the hell?” Marlene laughs. “You’re partners. You’ll find out soon enough, right?”