Page 29 of Bad for Me

“I know that!” he snaps, his gaze fastening to the road ahead of us.

I bite the inside of my cheek before trying again. “Ok, I’m glad you remember. Can you tell me your name? I’d sure like to know who I’m in the car with.”

He mutters something between clenched teeth.

“What was that?” I push gently.

He gnashes his teeth together before spitting out, “Justin.”

Ok, now we’re getting somewhere. “Nice to meet you, Justin.”

I turn my head to take in the state of Justin’s vehicle. There are old fast food wrappers piled high all over the place, along with soiled clothes. My eyes land on half-full soda bottles. I try not to think about what they’re filled with. On the windows, doors, and ceiling is splattered gunk. Small fruit flies are hovering close to my head rest, and what looks like mold is creeping up the side of the driver’s seat.

“Do you live in your car, Justin?”

He falls back into aggravated muttering, slowly rocking forward and back in his seat.

“You know, we could go back to my place if you want? I can get you some clean clothes and you can take a shower. We can talk about what’s going on and why?—”

“We can’t go back!” Justin interrupts sharply. “They’ll be there.”

“Who? Who will be there, Justin?”

“Dr. Carlton. He’ll go and try to find you. I can’t take you back to your house.”

My heart leaps at the sound of Bernard’s name. “So, he’s ok? You didn’t… you didn’t kill him?”

The last I heard, he was lying in a pool of his own blood. I’ve been trying hard not to spiral at the thought of Bernard lying there, bleeding out. The way my frayed nerves are, you’d think I love the guy or something.

It’s just empathy, I’ve been repeating in my head over and over again.

“Just knocked him out,” Justin grumbles. “Don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Ok, that’s a good sign. Maybe I can talk him down off this ledge. With a deep breath, I nod. “I’m glad to hear your intention isn’t to hurt anyone. But I have to ask, if that’s the case, why do you have a gun? Is it loaded?”

I glance down at the weapon as he grips it tighter.

“I had to make sure I could get you out of there. Two against one… I needed an advantage.” Justin shakes his head before worrying at his bottom lip.

My brows come together slowly. “Why did you need me out of that house? How did you know I was there?”

“He’s been watching you for a long time. D-Dr. Carlton, I mean. I-I was hanging in my car after a session with the doctor and saw him get in his car to leave. ’Cept he didn’t. He didn’t leave. H-he just sat there and waited, and then you came out. He watched you. Then he followed you home. I-I know ’cause I followed him. He did that a lot.”

I blink in surprise, though I’m not sure why I’m taken back. They’ve already told me as much.

“H-he, Dr. Carlton, wanted you. I knew something bad was going to happen. I-I didn’t want to think he would hurt you but-t,” Justin shakes his head hard. “Then I watched him and his son trap you in your office but luckily you escaped.” He swallows audibly. “B-but then they chased after you. I couldn’t stop them when they came to your house, but then I got this.”

He lifts this gun up, the barrel pointed at me. I freeze. My breath stalls in my throat.

“I just had to figure out how to get in,” Justin’s voice lowers, as does the gun. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”

Oh… A brief, weak wave of relief helps loosen the tension in my shoulders. This is just a misunderstanding. Kind of. I mean, Justin’s not wrong. I was most definitely being taken advantage of back in the office, and he did see me get kidnapped. On the outside, that probably did look alarming.

What’s it say about me that I’m not relieved about this gallant rescue?

“So all this was for me?” I ask, trying to make sure I understand.

“I had to save you.”

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