Page 14 of The Spy Ring

Maybe she wanted David to draw something creative for their program. He’s been getting into comics and dabbling with creating a special hero for a comic book he wants to write. He won’t let me see anything, but if it’s anything like the digital drawings he did for art in school, it’s going to be amazing.

“Henrik would like David to be one of his groomsmen.”

I stared at Morgana, her round hazel eyes full of hope. She didn’t realize, even Henrik was naïve at times, when it came to David. My son couldn’t stand for long periods of time—especially, through a wedding ceremony.

“Would he be allowed to sit or maybe use a cane?”

I added the cane as an option but knew David would hate that. With his new ability to walk, he did everything he could not to use a walker or cane. Even when he took his first steps earlier this past spring, the therapist tried to get him to use a walker but he said he’d rather fall than use one.

The boy that spent most of his life reliant on medical equipment to get around and live and never wanted to look back.

Her eyes widened as she frowned. “Oh, well, I guess we hadn’t discussed that. Henrik mentioned how strong David had become this year and he thought David might like to be included with the guys. He’s getting older—”

I held up my hands. “It’s your wedding Morgana and I don’t want to put limitations on it. That’s not my place but as strong as my son has become, he wouldn’t be able to stand through the ceremony without some help. Perhaps he can help design the program or even be an usher.”

Morgana nodded and turned her sight to the growing after-work crowd in the sports bar. Her brow wrinkled as she tilted her head. “That guy is staring at you. He looks really familiar.”

I glanced in the direction Morgana was staring at to find Jagger across the room, in a corner booth by the hallway to the bathrooms.

My head whipped back as I cupped the side of my face so he couldn’t see me. “Oh no. That’s David’s new physical therapist. He’s an idiot. I’m guessing that David is the very first client he’s ever had as the man doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

Morgana’s face brightened as her smile grew. “Really. He may be an idiot, but he’s a mega-hot idiot.”

She wiggled her eyebrows as she stared at me.

“No. Just, no. I’m done with one-night stands. After what happened in Vegas, I don’t ever want to go down that road again. Who knows, next time I might wake up next to a serial killer.”

“You wouldn’t wake up if he was a serial killer.”

“Exactly,” I said.

Morgana tilted her head. “It’s really weird about that night. I can’t remember anything other than meeting you and Aria at the bar. Some guy bought you a drink. I tested it with my special nail polish to see if it was drugged, but it wasn’t. Then I ordered my drink after Aria left and that was it.”

What Morgana said didn’t sit well with me. I thought I had too much to drink in Vegas but if Morgana can’t remember anything either, then perhaps it was something else. She tested the drink to see if it was drugged, so that wasn’t it. What could have happened?

I was about to discuss this further with Morgana when a familiar deep voice called out my name.

“Tiffany,” Jagger said as he appeared in front of our table.

He was taller than I remember, but that might be because I was currently sitting. His disheveled brown hair wasn’t as annoying as it was last week. Perhaps it was his dark T-shirt and fitted jeans that complemented his features as to why I didn’t find it as off-putting as I did last week.

“Hello, Jagger.” My smile not so forced.

“Funny running into you here,” he said as his eyes slid to Morgana before quickly turning back to me.

He seemed nervous. He seemed nervous when he came to my apartment. Maybe he was the type of guy who always appeared on edge.

“Yes. I guess we will see each other at five o’clock tomorrow for the session,” I said as I widened my smile trying to give him the hint that he could leave.

I wasn’t usually this rude to people, but how he acted at the session last week still made me question his ability to help my son. After he left I mentioned to David that I wanted to contact the PT group to find another therapist, but David begged me not to. As much as I disliked Jagger, my son loved him. I gave into David because he would be the one working with Jagger, not me.

“Of course. Yes. Now about that, is there somewhere we could talk?” Jagger asked as his eyes flickered back to Morgana.

“Hi, I’m Morgana. It’s nice to meet you.” Morgana stood and shot out her hand to him.

His eyes widened and he grew silent, staring at her hand. Jagger had the same fearful, confused gleam in his eyes when I answered the door last week.

“Hello, Morgana. I’m Jagger,” he mumbled and shook her hand once before pulling his hands behind his back.

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