Miles shrugged in answer.
“Having family show up can be difficult. But I’m sure they enjoyed seeing you.”
“N-n-n-no. M-m-mom mad-d-de some l-l-l-leave.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
He shrugged again.
“Hi!” said another boy who took a seat a bit too heavily in the empty chair next to me. I froze for a moment, my body stiffening up.
“Good evening, Brody,” Dr. Mayes said. “We’ve missed you the past few weeks. Glad you’re back.”
“I went to Ireland for a few months,” he said, taking a seat and spreading his legs out before him “But I’m back and thought I’d stop by and see what was up.”
Sawyer eyed Brody. “That’s my seat.”
“I didn’t see your name written on it,” he said with amusement.
“I’d just move it,” Brandy huffed as she took her own seat. “Sawyer called dibs on the new girl already.”
“New girl. Hmmm. I bet she has a name, don’t ya?” Brody asked, turning to me at the same time as leaning forwards in the seat. His eyes were dark as he took me in from head to toe.
“Scarlett,” I whispered, wide-eyed. My heart was pounding in my chest, but the animosity between Sawyer and this guy was more entertaining than my own worries at the moment.
“Pretty name for a pretty girl,” he said. My cheeks heated instantly. “Do you come here often?”
“Brody!” Dr. Mayes chided. “Pick-up lines are not for therapy sessions.”
“What?”
“Move it,” Sawyer said.
“You heard the lady,” said a voice from behind me that made my heart skip a beat then began to pulse double in time.
“Fine,” Brody huffed, scooting over one single seat, and not happily.
Sawyer was quick to take his place, laying a hand on my knee. Her eyes were filled with questions, ones that I couldn’t answer. Even if I wanted to, my voice wouldn’t work.
“Good evening, Caesar,” Dr. Mayes said. “Can we speak in private for a moment?”
“Sure,” he said.
So many thoughts crashed into me. Why was he here? What did he want? Was he here because Alan was too close?
“Hey, it’s okay,” Sawyer whispered to me to where only I’d be able to hear. “He can’t hurt you.”
“Something must be wrong.” Why else would he be here?
“I won’t be going anywhere,” she said, wrapping her hand in mine and squeezing tight. That little contact helped to keep my thoughts in the present. I jerked as my phone vibrated in my pocket. Thankfully, Sawyer didn’t think anything of my movement.
Moments later, Dr. Mayes and Caesar joined the circle, both taking a seat. I kept my gaze to the middle of the floor, not daring to look at the man. Maybe if I could pretend he wasn’t here at all, I wouldn’t fall into the dark thoughts my mind wanted me to.
“Please welcome Caesar. He’s new to the group tonight,” Dr. Mayes said. “And please welcome back Brody. It’s been a few weeks since he has welcomed us with his presence. Same rules as usual. Be respectful of each other, as some of us here are sensitive to how things are spoken. We are a group of survivors from every part of life. I’d like for us to go around and share with the group one thing you have survived.”
As each person said something that they’d lived through, my mind was on one thing: trying not to panic. Worry sat heavy in my stomach. My chest was tight. I clenched my teeth together, hoping the pain from that would keep my feelings away.
“I survived my parents’ arguments when they were alive,” Sawyer said from beside me.
