Page 23 of Bloom: Part 1

He likes me.

He likes me.

I replaced everything the way I’d found it, then lay on the couch with my boots propped up on the armrest and waited for Logan to return. Time passed without him returning. I stared at the ceiling, tracing the intricate patterns with my eyes.

My phone rang, but when Crowe’s name popped up on the screen, I ignored it. He left me a voicemail. I braced myself for his angry tirade as I played the message.

“Dammit, Bloom, where are you?” I felt slightly guilty for the worry in his tone. But not guilty enough to leave the office.

“Your shrink called to say you’ve been skipping your therapy sessions. You remember what happened the last time you stopped going? We’re not in Riverton anymore, where we have contacts, Bloom. We can’t cover for your ass if you go off onsomeone. Call me when you get this, and for fuck’s sakes, kid, just leave the doctor alone. He’s not worth it.”

Except Crowe didn’t get to decide who was worth it to me. I turned off my phone and tossed it onto the coffee table, my mind spinning, but one thing remained clear. Logan liked me back. He had kept all those little things I’d given him, even while he’d complained and dismissed me.

My stomach growled, a reminder I’d skipped lunch. A bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch was all I had for breakfast. How much longer would Logan be? He’d already been gone for over an hour.

A knock sounded on the door, and I jerked up to a sitting position. The door opened, and Jamie walked in. He looked so different from when he was at the clubhouse—more serious in his tailored pants and dress shirt underneath a white lab coat. His makeup was also minimal and warm. My skin tingled, and I had the strong urge to leave the room. Jamie reminded me of everything I wasn’t. He was smart, confident, sexy, and fun. All the boys liked him. All the boys wanted to hang out with him. All the boys wanted tobehim.

While I still needed therapy to figure out who I was. I was starting to fit into my goth skin, to accept the monster no one wanted. I wanted Logan to want me. Was that so difficult for them all to understand?

“There you are!” He flashed his perfect white teeth in a dazzling smile. Sometimes I wanted to carve two lines in his face with my knife just to make him a little imperfect. But I didn’t. Of course that would be wrong.And they thought I had no self-restraint.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Dr. Collier sent me.” He glanced around the office as if looking for someone else. “Have you been here long? Aren’t you bored?”

“Logan said I should stay here.”

“Logan? Hmm. I bet that made your day, huh?” He crossed his arms and grinned. Why did he look like he knew some of my dirty secrets?

“Something like that, though it’s none of your business.”

“You’re a part of the club family, so of course it’s my business. Wouldn’t you like my help?”

“What do you mean?”

“Considering I’m the closest person to Dr. Collier—” Jamie took a step back when I rose to my feet. “Bloom, I mean that platonically. I’m with Grimm. I have no interest in the doctor. Frankly, I don’t even know why you are interested in him. Dr. Collier isn’t an easy man to get close to.”

“I just am. Did you need a reason to like Grimm?”

“Well, I’ve always had the hots for Grimm. He’s protective and sweet.”

I snorted. “Sweet?”

“Yes, sweet to me.”

“Then maybe Dr. Collier will be sweet to only me.” I liked the thought of that. I liked that very much.

“Maybe, but I must warn you to keep your expectations low. Dr. Collier doesn’t do personal relationships.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’m his protégé. Take a look at his office, for example. Do you know he’s had this office for several years?”

“So what?”

“There’s nothing personal here. That’s Dr. Collier in a nutshell. He keeps everyone at a distance, although I admit he seems…more tolerant of you than he usually is of most people.”

“He is?” The good news kept coming.

---