“Jess, where are you going?”
I ignore him, struggling to get my shaking hands into the sleeves.
“Jess,” he says, louder now, coming closer. “It’s freezing out there. Where the fuck are you going?”
“I just need air,” I manage.
Before he can say anything else, I slip out the front door and let the cold swallow me whole.
Chapter Ten
Logan
This morning.
I slide Myles his glass of juice and give him a small smile. “Here you go, buddy.”
“Thanks, Dad,” he says, already reaching for it.
I turn back toward the refrigerator and take my time putting the carton away. “Hey, I’ve got a meeting at ten. I’m gonna need about an hour of quiet, so I’ll take it in the bedroom.”
Jess pauses at the counter. “Oh.” Then, “What’s it about? Do you need me?”
The question catches me off guard.
I pretend not to hear it.
“River,” I say instead, “you want anything to drink?”
“Water, please,” he answers, mouth already smeared with Nutella.
I laugh and grab him a glass, ruffling his hair as I set it down in front of him.
Then I scoop up my laptop and head toward the hallway.
“An hour,” I repeat over my shoulder, not looking at Jess.
For good measure, I lock the bedroom door behind me.
I know that probably makes me an asshole, but what am I supposed to say? That I’ve got a Zoom with a therapist to deal with her lies?
I drop into the armchair by the window and set the laptop on the windowsill. It balances there awkwardly, and I stare at it for a second.
We really need to get some damn tables set up around here.
Another thing for the list.
At ten on the dot, I connect to the call.
Dr. Brett’s face pops up on the screen.
He’s not wearing his glasses today, and for some reason that throws me off. He looks… different. Younger maybe. Or just less competent.
I keep staring longer than I mean to.
“Mr. West,” he says.
I blink. “Right. Yeah. Hi, Dr. Brett.”
