Page 420 of Dark Love

Max grins at me before stalking away.

Are You Okay?

Dahlia

I should have just called in sick again today. Maybe if I hid until Monday, everyone would have forgotten that I took the day off.

People around here are busybodies. They’re all probably talking about me taking the day off and spending it with a rude man.

A man like Vex probably doesn’t bother with social niceties that often. He does what he wants regardless of what other people think.

And I worry too much about what others think.

You can do this. The people inside are adults. They aren’t going to call you names or shame you for having a man at your house alone.

Adults don’t call each other names.

You’re safe.

Everything is just fine.

Why can’t Vex come to work with me? No one would say anything to me with my own personal Bone Crusher around.

Part of moving out and getting a job was being ready for anything that might happen.

You’ve hidden at home from the world far too long.

But what if they do call me names?

I couldn’t handle that. Not again. Not ever again.

What would I do? My body locks up.

Home. I want to be home with my parents again. The overwhelming need mixes with the terror dancing in my stomach.

This isn’t normal.

Adults don’t act like stupid, cruel kids.

“Hey.” Mindy’s cheerful voice barely breaks through the haze. “Are you okay? Maybe you should have taken another day off of work. You look a little pale. Do you need an ambulance?”

What? No. Is everyone staring at me now? “No. I’m okay.” At least as far as an ambulance goes. They can’t do anything to help with my panic attacks that my therapist hasn’t already done.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, but thank you.”

“No problem. It’s my job.” She grins at me, then opens the front door for me to walk through.

I have a friend. Mindy won’t laugh at me. She won’t make fun of me. And she certainly won’t think less of me… She didn’t judge Diane for making out with Tac in front of the whole world.

This is no big deal. Adults are different. People in the city are different. “And you do it well.”

“So do you. I’ve never seen someone take to it so well. It’s as if you’ve been doing it your entire life.”

It feels that way sometimes. “I really like doing it. Working here feels good. It’s more than just giving back. It’s making an immediate difference.” Not tomention I never actually see these people so it’s a judgment-free zone. To them, I’m a voice on the phone there to help.

“With Adonis as a boss, I will be here for the rest of my life. Don’t you love his chicken noodle soup?”

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