Page 84

He goes to move past me, but I stop him by grabbing his wrist. “Thank you. For giving me this. Whatever this is.”

It feels a lot like trust, and that’s something that hits deep.

His eyes go to my hand. “Just remember that she’s a good person, okay?”

I stare at him, confused by the remark.

But I say, “Okay,” like I understand.

Because I can tell he needs to hear that.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Olive

Logan’s Psychiatric Hospitalis a mixture of red brick, beige stonework, and windows. Lots of windows for natural sunlight. The roof is flat in most places, except for the angular section above the front entrance that makes it look more like a modern art museum than a mental institute.

That’s probably for the better.

The outside is well kept with trimmed hedges and an assortment of flowers and bushes lining the front of the building. There are small trees that look a lot like my mother’s favorite lavender ones back home planted every twenty feet up the road that leads directly to the front entrance.

When Alex puts the car into park in front of the sliding glass doors, he looks at me with a pleading look in his blue eyes. “Can you stay here for me? I won’t be long. I’ve got some paperwork to fill out and I want to talk to Mom’s head nurse.”

Whatever is going on here is between him and his mother, so I nod. “I’ll make sure nobody tows us.”

He smiles, but it doesn’t meet his eyes. Looking over his shoulder, he says, “Ready, Ma?”

“No.” Sighing, she opens the door. “But I don’t think I have a choice. Let’s go. I’m sure my prison cell is waiting with a fresh lock.”

Alex’s jaw tics, but all he does is get out of the car and guide her inside the sliding glass doors until they disappear out of sight.

I lean back in my seat and pull my phone out from my pocket for the first time since getting to Pittsburgh. There are at least twenty messages waiting for me, mostly from my friends.

Skylar:Are you alive?

Skylar:You better be having the best sex of your life right now

Berlin:What if the sex incapacitated her?

Skylar:Are you okay????

Skylar:If you don’t stop you won’t be able to walk tomorrow

Berlin:Best problem to have

Skylar:I am going to call the cops and do a wellness check on you if you don’t answer me in two hours just in case you’re in a sex coma

Berlin:Do you even have an address??

Skylar:We share our locations

Berlin:How am I just finding out about this? Do you not love me enough to share your locations with me?

Skylar:Your phone doesn’t have that feature or we would include you

Berlin:I hate you both

Skylar:No you don’t