Page 30 of Denim & Diamonds

“Take it.” I extended my hand farther. “I don’t like you not having one for an emergency.”

February smiled. “An emergency? Or not having one to send the next pictures in the series?”

I winked. “Whatever you need it for.”

She laughed and took the phone. Then she grabbed the door handle and started to get out. But she stopped and turned back to me. “Can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Why haven’t you kissed me?”

I blinked.

She continued before I could figure out how to answer the question. “It’s looked like you wanted to a few times, but then you never do.”

My eyes jumped back and forth between hers. “You’re right, I have wanted to kiss you.”

“But…”

“But you’re leaving in a few weeks, and it’s probably not a good idea.”

February smiled and leaned in to kiss my cheek. After, her mouth moved to my ear. “Such a shame. Some of the best times I’ve had in my life started out asbad ideas.”

CHAPTER 6

February

Group therapy sessions were the worst. While I definitely found some value in my one-on-one appointments and also some of the relaxation classes here, the group sessions were different. They consisted of a bunch of people talking over each other, one big brain dump of thoughts and feelings, without us ever really getting anywhere. I had enough issues of my own without having to spend time working out other people’s problems. And there was rarely a common denominator among us.

Morgan complained about her social media exhaustion and depression from having “low views.” Stephanie from Boston lamented that she’d woken up this morning and couldn’t get a certain song out of her head. So now she thought she was going crazy and it would be stuck there forever. Angie from Baltimore was feeling disconnected from reality, like she was outside of her own body.

I hadn’t said a word this morning and wished I could somehow get out of this session.

As if the universe heard my plea, my secret phone buzzed in my purse. I looked around, hoping no one had heard the vibration. Going to check it would be my excuse to leave this miserable session.

“Excuse me.” I stood. “I have to use the bathroom.”

I escaped from the group therapy room and checked my phone out in the hall. Much to my delight, it was a text from Brock—the first since he’d given me the cell two days ago.

Brock: Any chance you could sneak away during daylight hours? Or are you perpetually a vampire?

February: There’s a first time for everything. What did you have in mind?

Brock: I’d like to offer a getaway car if you can swing a daytime escape.

February: Where would we be going?

Brock: It’s a surprise.

February: Give me a hint.

The dots moved around as he typed.

Brock: You might end up getting sticky.

Sticky.

Hmm...Sexwas sticky…