This was the first time being on my own in ... my whole life. Unless I counted the times Dad would disappear, but I would always wait by the door, wondering when he would be back and my misery would return.
These walls were mine. I could do what I wanted here and no one could stop me.
Well, other thanme.
With a sigh, I went to the front windows and looked out over the square of Strawberry Springs. Even behind a pane of glass, I could tell that it was better in person. Instead of busy streets like I saw in Knoxville, there were only a few people out and about. When they would pass someone on the road, they would either smile or stop and chat.
“This is scary,” I said to myself. “But this is what I need to do. Rip it off like a Band-Aid.”
I imagined what my therapist, Scarlett, would say. She would give me a smile and nod. “Yes. You have some hard goals to accomplish, but you’re determined. I think you can do this.”
“I can do this.”
Looking over my apartment one more time, I tried to imagine it. My eyes closed as I pictured getting out of the house, running errands like it was nothing. While shopping, I could run into a cute guy and ask him on a date.
My daydream was ruined when I ran straight into a box.
“Unpacking,” I muttered. “Right. I still need to do that.”
As I opened the first box, I tried to make a plan in my mind.
Tomorrow. That would be the day I went outside and tried something new. Maybe I’d check out the library that had called me here. Or the coffee shop downstairs.
I had to dosomething.
With a goal in mind, I went to all the boxes Joey and Mitch had left, shuffling them to their rooms. I started in the bedroom, where my bare mattress waited for me.
After putting on the sheets and pillows, I moved to the bathroom, then to the kitchen and living room.
Hours later, my arms were aching, but my apartment finally looked fit for guests.
If I ever had those.
I pushed the thought out of my mind. Iwouldhave guests because I was going to get my fear under control.
A knock on my door broke me out of my thoughts. It shouldn’t have caused my heart to race, but it did. When people were at Joey and Mitch’s door, I would either hide or have them answer it.
I brushed my sweaty palms on my leggings and slowly walked to the door.
My heart continued to pound as I saw a woman with brown hair that faded into pink ends and another one with strawberry-blonde hair.
I recognized one of them.
Wren Hackett looked different in person than on camera. Her hair was in a braid and her lashes were lighter against green eyes. But it was definitely her.
“Hi!” Wren said, perking up when she saw me. “I’m so excited you made it! I’m Wren. And this is Kelsey.” She pointed to the woman beside her.
“Nice to meet you both. I’m Piper.”
Wren held out a hand to shake.
Fuck.I couldn’t do it.
The mixture of guilt and fear churning in my gut was familiar, and it made me want to hide.
I stayed brave, though.
“My hands are sweaty,” I managed to say. “And gross.”
