Page 24 of The Last Session

“You work at that place on the East Side? Isn’t that where that actress was?”

“What?” I’d mentioned my job early on—I knew working at a psych ward would catch his attention—but I didn’t know he’d heard about Catherine. A defensive wall began to rise.

“I saw it on social media.” He shook his head, his expression serious. “I can’t imagine what happened to her. To make her end up there.”

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “It’s a mystery.”

“Is it?” He pulled out his phone. A text lit up the screen.

Fuck. I didn’t want him to get distracted. So what was the harm in sharing a tidbit? “She has amnesia.”

He eased his phone back into his pocket. “Oh, wow. Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Has it been a media circus there? Like, reporters hanging out and stuff?”

“Not really, actually. I think they know they can’t get in.” How could I push this conversation into flirtier territory?

“So when did she leave?” Jonah asked.

“Why are you so interested?” I tilted my head.

He smiled. “I’m not allowed to ask about my teen crush?”

“Teen crush?” I echoed.

“Oh yeah.” He chuckled. “I remember taping thisStargirlnewspaper review to my wall. My parents actually didn’t have a computer at home until I was seventeen, so…”

“She was your Pornhub?”

He grimaced. “It felt a lot more innocent than that.”

“I get it.” I scooted forward. “I had a huge crush on Sebastian Smith, her costar. And for the record, I never looked at porn either. Our computer was in my dad’s office, and I wassurehe was going to walk in on me.”

“Porn-free adolescences.” He smiled. “We have so much in common.”

“I know, right?”

“You know, you kind of look like her.” He studied me.

“The less attractive version.”Jesus. Don’t neg yourself.

He shook his head. “Not at all.”

“Well, thanks.” I set down my beer. “To answer your question, she’s leaving the hospital tomorrow morning. So, in about…” I checked my phone; it was almost two. “Eight hours, this will all be over.”

I was going to be wrecked at work the next day, but it’d be worth it. We gazed at each other, and I started leaning forward.

He pointed behind me. “That your bathroom?”

“Yeah.”

He disappeared, and I took the opportunity to run into my room and chuck a pile of dirty clothes into the laundry basket. Thank God I’d made the bed this morning. When the bathroom door opened, I hurried out and perched expectantly on the couch’s arm.

“Hey.” He winced. “I’m really sorry to do this. But there’s a family thing I have to deal with. My dad’s been blowing up my phone. I need to head out.”

“Are you sure?” I jumped up. “You can call him here.”

---