Rule squeezed his eyes shut, squeezed Bianca’s little bunny. “D-dr. P-Patricks said it m-might help if I-I-I had v-v-voice time.”
“It might,” Freya told him, soft and soothing. “But you’re in control of them. They aren’t in control of you.”
“I want my mom and my sister.”
A hand gripped his shoulder. “You love them,” Bianca said, and Rule realized it was her. “Tell your friends to back off for them.”
“I love my mom and my sister,” Rule said in a shaky voice.
You don’t! You hate them. You hate Bianca.
Rule shook his head. “I don’t! Go away! You can’t be here with them.”
He was shaking, sweating, wanting to run to his room and hide.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Freya dropped her hands. “You’ve done nothing wrong, love.”
It felt like it. “I want to try the higher dose of my old medicine.”
“I’ll talk to Father Wilkins,” Freya said, sighing. “Will you be okay? I have to see to a couple of things.”
“I’ll stay with him,” Bianca promised, then looked at the clock. “My group starts in five minutes.”
Freya looked at Bianca. “Father Wilkins wanted me to ask you if you’d like an excuse for today so you can visit with Rule’s mom and sister.”
“Do you want me to tag along, Rule?” she asked, suddenly shy, just like the last time his family had come to visit.
Relief swirled into Rule that Bianca would be there. “Duh,” he said, returning the grin that blossomed across her face.
An hour later, Father Wilkins escorted Mom and Rebel to where Rule and Bianca sat in the visitation area. Large blue, yellow, and chocolate colored circles wound through the painted walls. It was supposed to inspire happiness but those loops annoyed the fuck out of room. Every time he passed by and longed to have visitors, he scowled at the décor.
A dozen round tables with six chairs each stood on terracotta tile in hexagon patterns.
“Rule!” Rebel cried, breaking away from Mom and the priest and running to him without hesitation.
Without fear.
He got to his feet just as she barreled into his arms and he laughed, returning her hug with genuine relief and enthusiasm.
“What are you doing in LA, Reb?” he asked, not letting her go. He’d forgotten to ask Freya why Mom and Reb were there. “Not that I’m complaining.”
Releasing him, she kissed his cheek. “We came to see you,” she said. “I’ve been missing you a lot and so has Momma so we booked flights.”
Liars!
“We text every day, Reb,” Rule said, determined to ignore his friends.
“It isn’t the same as seeing you,” she said quietly. “I wish you were home.” She pressed her lips together then pasted a smile on, her blue eyes watery. “I wish you were closer.”
Rule nodded.
“Momma’s anxious to see you, so we can talk again before we leave.”
Disappointment hit Rule and—
Whores!
