I followed Ri back out to the reception area, where he took his place at his desk again. Standing to the side was a tall, thin man, clean shaven with neatly styled salt-and-pepper hair. He was wearing a very expensive-looking suit, and very thinly maskeddisgust in his expression. His attention was on a small bottle of sanitizer that he applied to his hands.
“Um, hi there.”
Pale eyes looked me up and down and seemed to find me lacking. “Mr. Forrester.”
“Just Benny is fine.”
He pursed his lips. “Benny.” He spoke as if judging my name. “I must speak with you.”
“Okaaay?” I prompted when he fell silent again.
“I presume you have an office, or some place a little more private and…” He mumbled the next word. “Sanitary… we may speak?”
My gaze flicked to Riley, who had never been good at masking his true emotions. The way his lip pulled up and his brow rose told me he was caught between confused and offended.
I tried not to smile. “What’s this about?”
“Well, I’d rather not say here…hencethe request for privacy.”
There was an office here, though it wasn’t so much mine as the office of whoever needed the computer at any point in time. I didn’t use it often because I liked to be out here where the people were, or in the breakroom, which was closer to the floor.
“Uh, sure.” I agreed, only because the man was clearly uncomfortable and I doubted he was here for a tour and membership sign-up. So whatwashe here for?
He followed at a distance, his eyes taking in the rest of the gym, which he also didn’t care for, until we were in the small office, away from prying ears and eyes.
The man looked around the room, not impressed by what he saw, but not as offended by it as the rest of the gym.
He turned to face me, eyeing me with suspicion for a moment longer.
I waited him out, staring right back.
He exhaled loudly, seeming to resign himself to something. “My name is Matthew Kimberly. I wish to speak to you about Harper Lorens.”
Well, fuck.
twenty-six
Harper
STRAWBERRY TEARS.
The city was bright and busy and so far away, colors that blurred, swirled, blinked, and pulsed on the other side of the glass. Reflections danced over my ceiling, amplified in the darkness I kept myself in. Even the bright yellow blanket around my shoulders had its color swallowed by shadows. Muted to monochrome.
Aurelia explored the soft fur. She’d always loved getting into my clothing and fabric, and the blanket seemed to please her. It pleased me too. A warmth deeper than its temperature held me like a hug. It felt like care. Matthew had picked this for me, and of all the gifts and items I’d ever received—and there were a lot—this one was undoubtedly my favorite.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
Matthew
What would you like for dinner?
He’d asked the same question for breakfast and lunch today as well. Our talk last night had amplified his stubborn need to look after me. I knew then, of course, that if I didn’t reply, he’d simplybring me more options than any normal person could eat in one sitting. He’d done it in the office today and hadn’t left the room until he’d seen me eat some of it. It had tasted good. It sat heavy in my stomach, even though I knew logically my body would have digested it hours ago.
I’d gotten used to feeling my stomach twist and cramp. It hurt. But when the feeling in my body matched the feeling in my soul—angry and hollow—it just seemed right. It was slowly returning. And while I’d appeased Matthew over lunch, the thought of eating again tonight made the nausea increase past what hunger would do to me.
Strawberry tea.
That was another thing I tolerated. Bitter sweet. It tasted of pain and comfort mixed together, my mind linking it to the emotions I’d held when visiting Dex months ago.
