Page 49 of Surviving the Merge
“Bloodhound.”
“And now this annoying guy named Max won’t stop interrupting me?”
“Heyyyy?”
“Kidding,” I said, palms up, smirking. Warm brown eyes framed by thick, dark lashes glinted with a childlike mirth. “So what was your question?”
“Oh, you answered it,” he said. “I’m assuming you grew up here?”
“I moved here right before high school and eventually left for the city. I still own the house, but my... someone else has been handling the upkeep.” Needing a distraction to keep my mind off Blake, I turned to walk out of the studio. “Do you want to come in for a bit?”
Is that the normal thing to ask someone you’ve only just met? Why would he want to come in for a bit? To do what? He doesn’t even know me. I have got to be the most socially handicapped person in the world?
“I’d love to, but I need to get going to the community center. I teach a carpentry class there a few evenings a week.” Max ran his hand through his shaggy chestnut hair. He easily deciphered the look on my face as surprise. “What? Did you think I would say no?” he asked with a touch of amusement.
“I... umm... maybe. I mean, I figured people don’t typically ask someone they only met minutes prior to come into their home for no reason. I’m thinking I should’ve asked if you wanted to come in for a drink?” I asked dubiously.
He laughed.“I must say, you’re a breath of fresh air, Justin.”
“Huh?” Was he secretly laughingatme?
“And you don’t even know it. That’s perfect.” Silence… “Well, I’ll definitely take a raincheck on that‘bit’ or ‘drink’?either works for me.”
Max gathered Pluto’s leash, and I narrowed my eyes on him, catching a hint of a smirk. Definitely making fun of me.
Walking backwards, he said, “Oh, and happy birthday.”
“Thanks.” Looking at my watch, I groaned at how much time remained of this weird and exhausting day.
After hunting down my phone and responding to Sam’s missed calls with a text letting her know I was okay, I read the messages from Blake.
Happy Birthday. You said not to call, but you didn’t say anything about texting, so I decided to take advantage of the loophole. We’ve been a wreck without you. I woke up Tuesday to find the condo trashed. I’m assuming Damon was trying to find details on your new apartment?don’t worry, there was nothing to be found.
Blake strikes again.Always thinking ahead. I’m sure he got rid of anything that could trace back to the apartment long before we went to our session on Monday. Predicting what the outcome would be. That knowledge irrationally angered me.
We’ve been to see Julie every day since you left. Surprisingly, Damon is more motivated than ever to give integration a shot. I’m not sure what’s motivating it. He won’t allow me access to his thoughts. Have you started reading the memoir yet? It’s enlightening.
Blake’s attempts at sparking conversation were obvious. As if he didn’t want to hang up. As absurd as that sounded.
I love you. Don’t forget your promise to me.
I dug through my memories. “Promise you’ll always find your way back to me?” he’d asked. How dare he try and hold me to that. I moved on to the next text, time stamped an hour after the first.
Where the fuck are you? I’ve been to the Chadwick house twice, and no sign of you. What’s the address to your apartment? When I find you…
Damon.
Tossing the phone on the cushion beside me, I let my hair down and speared my fingers through it, gripping tightly. The pain gave me something else to concentrate on.Shower, food, and booze.I shuffled to the car to collect my things.
Searching through my bag from the weekend trip to Seattle, I found the book that Blake was referring to. The one written by another patient of Julie’s. I read the cover:All of Us.
Book, shower, food, and booze.I amended my previous schedule.
Looking up from my spot on the couch hours later, I bookmarked my page and glanced through the patio doors. The sun had set, and I’d made it more than halfway throughAll of Us.
Twelve alters. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. The host’s name was Phillip. If one of his alters—Jason—thought his wife so much aslookedat another man too long, he would emerge once Phillip went to sleep and become physically or emotionally abusive toward her. With Philip’s agreement, she started handcuffing him to the headboard before bed.
Sometimes a glimpse into someone else's havoc brought a sense of appreciation to your own. Things could always be worse.
