Page 8 of Spelled By Truth and Tresses

“Yes! Coming.”

I grabbed my coffee.

“Have a good day,” Mother said, the rigidity of her smile so commonplace it almost appeared genuine. Honestly, it looked painful to hold that expression. She might’ve pulled off the emotion she was attempting to fool me with if it weren’t for the disgust harbored in her muddy gray gaze.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and eyed the message.

I’m glad you texted. However, I told you to call.

I quickly wrote back before Lalita saw.

Who calls anymore? Anyway, can I talk to you after classes today? Meet me at the bench by the woods.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to him. Either way, it couldn’t hurt to hear him out.

I shoved my phone in my bag and walked outside. It was slightly warmer today than it had been all month. The sky was bright and almost clear, except for the odd scattered cloud. Birds were tweeting, and there was a cool breeze tickling my cheek. Whistling greeted my ears as my neighbor raked the red and brown leaves scattered across his lawn.

Lalita and I walked side by side in comfortable silence as we made our way to Ghost Rose.

“So…your mother said you’ve been going to a psychiatrist?”

“Doctor Roads,” I stated. “She’s okay, but she hasn’t really helped. I just needed help to get to sleep. That’s all.”

She didn’t look convinced. “I have no issues with you going to therapy, Z. In fact, I think it could really help you deal with the heavy burden of grief.” Lalita paused. “But did your mother find and schedule your appointments with Doctor Roads?”

“Naturally. You know she enjoys keeping me under her thumb in every way.”

Her body stiffened as she spoke her next words, “How do you know if you can trust that therapist? If your mother is involved, it could be extremely dangerous to keep seeing her.”

“Shit. I didn’t even think of that. I’ll skip my next appointment and then find a new therapist. “We walked for a few more minutes while I dredged up the nerve to ask Lalita for advice. “Listen, I need to ask you something,” I mumbled. I bit my lip, then remembered I had lipstick on. I cleaned my teeth with my tongue. “It’s about Jax.”

“Oh gods.”

“He tracked me down before class yesterday.”

“And?”

“Nothing really. He just wanted to get me alone to talk about something.”

“Z, he is a creep.” Lalita’s eyebrows drew together. Seriously, please stay away from him. The aura surrounding him is disturbing.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I know, and I trust your witchy instincts.”

“Well, I know you. You’re attracted to all of that,” she said, while she fought the corners of her lips from turning up.”

I stopped; irritation tightened my skin. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She waved her hand. “Oh, come on, I just meant you’ve always been drawn toward people with the darkest intensions.” Lalita placed both hands on my shoulders, then squeezed them lightly. “I’m worried, is all. Nine times out of ten when you’re drawn into relationships with those types, it’s toxic as fuck.”

“Why, thanks Lalita,” I replied.

“What I am saying is you are not toxic. You are kind. Others take advantage of you. People like Jax.”

“Thanks,” I said sarcastically. “But I’m sure he was just trying to find out more about my dad’s accident. What is it with everyone and their morbid curiosity?”

She shook her head. Her waves bounced around her shoulders. “Ignore them. They’ll soon forget about it when something new happens.”

I felt a knot in my stomach. Forget about it, just like he would be forgotten about. Pain radiated through my chest. I pushed the pain away into a deep, bottomless pit, along with my other emotions.

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