‘I thought you were going down to the lab last night when you left.’
Fuuuuuuck.
I did say that. My hands stop rifling.
‘I—’
‘You didn’t like your burger?’ he asks.
I let out a small sigh.
‘The burger wasn’t the usual one I get from there. I tried it, but it was covered in BBQ sauce. I couldn’t eat it,’ I say honestly, not turning around.
‘So, you went to Sauvage?’
Is he angry? I glance back but he doesn’t seem like it.
‘I didn’t need to go to the lab,’ I say truthfully. ‘But after we... After the sex, I didn’t want to be here, so I went to see Pierre. He was having dinner anyway so I joined him.’
I shrug. ‘It’s not a big deal.’
‘Having dinner with Sauvage isn’t a big deal,’ Mav agrees. ‘But the reasons you felt like you couldn’t stay up here with us, or the fact that you didn’t want to, that you’ve been avoiding us?—’
‘You’veall been avoidingme, not the other way around,’ I blurt out and then wince.
I turn, meeting Mav head-on. I’ve started the conversation now. There’s no going back.
‘The others will be here soon,’ he says cryptically.
‘What will they say?’ I ask, my expression devoid of emotion.
Mav steps closer. ‘Daisy, they aren’t going tosayanything, nothing bad. But we need to talk. You’re unhappy.’
I search his face. He’s right, I realize. I am unhappy.
‘But what if the talk just makes me more unhappy?’ I ask quietly.
He gives me a smile. ‘We love you. You still love us too, right?’
I nod and he looks relieved.
‘Then we just need to communicate. That’s all. You tell us why you’re unhappy. We’ll tell you if there are things bothering us. And then we’ll fix it, okay?’
I nod a little hesitantly, and he takes my hand, drawing me out into the living room. He sits me on the couch and sinks down next to me.
‘Something happened today,’ I say, searching his face. ‘You looked upset when I came in. You were drinking.’
Mav lets his body fall back hard against the couch. ‘Applegate called me to his office. My grant is gone.’
'The non-opiate?' I ask.
'It's dead.'
Mav had a real problem and I’m angry because I’m not getting enough attention. I think I might be the asshole.
I let out a long breath, and I take his hand.
'It won't be forever,' I murmur, hoping I’m saying the right thing.
