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I sighed.“It’s not that I’m not grateful…”

“I don’t need your gratitude, Phillip.I need you to stay healthy.You’re doing so well, and we need to make certain you stay on the right track and not…slip.”

Ah.So that’s what they’re calling a suicide attempt.

I was lucky.My landlady had found me in time.

Or not lucky.That totally depended on one’s perspective.

I’d apologized to her.

She’d accepted that apology.And also made it clear I couldn’t come back.Aside from the bad associations, I had also been three months late on rent.I’d been lucky she hadn’t just called the sheriff to evict me.

“I’m not going to slip.”I pointed to my pill bottles.“Every day.I take them every day.Jermain, the pharmacist, keeps me on track.”

Anthony’s smile didn’t waver.“That’s great.But it’s only been three days since you got here.I believe you can sustain this…but I also believe in putting as many people in our corner as we can.I think Dr.Martin is the best person to help.”

I blew out a long breath.“If I sayno, do I get kicked out?”

He shook his head.“As long as you’re doing the work and staying healthy, you’re good to stay here.This is a place for you to get your feet back under you.There are no timelines.”

“Look, Anthony, I know you’re a nice guy.”

His head tilted.

“I haven’t had my feet under me since I was, I don’t know…five?Between my mom being sick—and then eventually dying—and the…bad situation I got myself into back in LA…” I winced.“I’ve not had a good run.”

“I know that.”That smile slipped a bit.“Phillip, I’m not going to sugarcoat it—you’ve had a rough go for most of your life.But you’ve kept going.Against incredible headwinds.You’ve had a setback, but you can recover from this.Youarerecovering from this,” he quickly amended.“So why not do everything we can to ensure you have the best chance of success?Leaving LA was a brave thing to do.Starting over somewhere fresh is great—but it can also be daunting.”

“I’ve got Wally.”I scratched my dog’s ears.He sat on the couch next to me.“I organized his adoption while I was still living in the shelter.That took planning.”And I was grateful to be out of the shelter.I hadn’t needed it for protection from an abusive ex, like most of the residents.I’d needed it in order to be under supervision while Anthony worked out the details of me coming here.

“Rescuing Wally was a great idea, Phillip.I was happy to sign off on the venture.But you agreed taking care of him means also taking care of yourself.”Anthony shifted, crossing his legs.He looked too elegant to be sitting on a worn recliner.He’d assured me that he’d visited plenty of clients here over the last few months.That James would welcome me—which he had.That I’d settle in—which I was trying to do.

“I…uh…” I wracked my brain.“I met a neighbor.While walking Wally in the park.”

“Oh, who?”

“Jeremy.”I tried for a smile.“He lives next door.”

“Oh, I know Jeremy.Great guy.”That megawatt smile was back.

For my cute neighbor, for delight in me proving I wasn’t a loner loser, or both?

I couldn’t tell.“Yeah.We, uh, walked together.Like, well, I was walking Wally.And he joined us.”I scratched Wally’s ears.“He talks.A lot.”

Anthony laughed.“I agree Jeremy can be very friendly.He’s a good guy.I didn’t realize he lived close.”

I pointed to the next house.“Right there.”

“Oh.”Anthony cocked his head.“You would think I’d know that.Heck, maybe I did.”

“You’re busy.”

“I am.”For just an instant, his face took a solemn expression.About his life?About his clients?

About me?

“I’m planning to come back five days from today—on Monday.You’ll be okay until then?”