Page 21 of Elanie & the Empath
Staring down at my disheveled pants, my shoes dangling off my heels, I didn’t feel hot. I felt out of control.
Biting my cheek, I commed,
He clicked his tongue over the comm.
I raised my head, frowning at the stall door. I asked. Why did nothing make sense anymore?
I groaned at the suggestive, listless tone he used when he was trying to convince me to do something I didn’t necessarily want to do. My shoulders tensed like I was bracing for impact in front of an oncoming bullet train.
I cried, confused, drained, my systems completely crashing out.
I said, hating the thickness in my throat, the hot pressure building behind my eyes.
There was something about tonight. Maybe it was my visits with Dr. Semson. Maybe it was my close encounter with my vagina. Maybe it was Blake being Blake.
Maybe it’s the fact that you’re hearing voices.
Whatever it was, it was too much.
Dropping my face into my hands again, I commed,
he said, offended.
I commed, rising to my feet. He wasmissing my point. He was missing everything. And I didn’t have the energy to argue with him.
he asked.
I clicked off the comm, washed my hands, straightened my top, and slammed my hand over the bathroom door panel so hard it cracked. While the door slid open, I closed my eyes and took a breath. And then I walked straight into Dr. Semson’s firm, blue chest.
8.SEM
As hard asI tried not to, I’d been watching Elanie, stealing glances, furious that I couldn’t read her. I’d been studying her facial expressions during our visits, trying to figure out what that quirk of her left eyebrow meant. If the way she occasionally flared her nostrils was because she was annoyed or amused. If that tightness in the corner of her mouth was habitual or if it meant she was upset. By her expression tonight, though—her pursed lips, tense shoulders, the deep, fearful lines etched between her brows—it was clear that something was wrong.
I’d wanted to talk to her.Neededto. Especially after she raced by my table like she was running from something. I wanted to check in with her so badly that I may have pretended that I needed to go to the bathroom just so I’d run into her.
And now here she was, pressed against my chest, her fingers curling around my arms as she stared into my eyes. As we both caught our breaths.
“Elanie—”
“Why were you standing in front of the females’ bathroom door?” she asked, stepping back, letting me go.
“I, um, wasn’t.” I hooked my thumb toward the males’ room and laughed a little. “I’d just gotten done and…” And what? And I decided to justpausehere? “I guess I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“You should be more careful,” she said, her nostrils flaring. Definitely annoyed. “Pay more attention.”
Elanie, I couldn’t pay more attention to you if I tried.“You’re probably right.” I ran a hand through my hair, then slid both hands into my pockets. “Are you having a nice time tonight?” Not my smoothest segue, but considering we were still standing right outside the bathroom,smoothwas a big ask.
