Page 63 of The Vow Thief
The comments for the picture were piling up: hearts, compliments, and a few tagging friends to speculate who she was. My pulse slowed to something cold.
I didn’t like how easily she fit next to him. I didn’t like that he looked happy.
I didn’t dare like or comment. I just shut off my phone, curled up in my bed, and cried myself to sleep.
I heard a knock on my door. It felt like my head had just hit the pillow. When I looked at my phone, the time was 8:15 AM. I was running late for my appointment with Dr. Colleen. There was no way in hell I was missing her today. This was my third session with her, and I was learning about myself, about my choices, but most importantly, about my self-loathing.
I opened my bedroom door and found Sean standing in the doorway, showered, dressed, and way ahead of me. His cologne curled around me and somehow made me feel better.
His look shifted from pensive to worried.“You’re not up? Is something wrong?”
I shook my head.“Nothing’s wrong, I just slept late. I’ll be ready in fifteen.”
I turned to close the door, but he pushed through and sat on the bed. Enter Sean, the controller.
“We have to be there by nine,” he said edged with irritation.
I ignored him, went into my closet, and closed the door to get ready. When I walked back into my room in a hoodie and jeans, his eyes scanned me with a slow, disapproving glare. I grabbed my purse and phone and walked out without another word.
When we finally made it to the office complex, I swore I saw Sarah Taylor talking to someone I couldn’t see. It was her perfect, glowing hair that gave her away. Sure enough, when she turned, she was laughing and animated, talking to Dr. Colleen.
What the hell? What in the hell was Saint Sarah doing talking to my Dr. Colleen?
Once we parked, I bolted from the car, leaving Sean behind. When I opened the office door at 9:01 a.m., Dr. Colleen was standing at the reception desk chatting with the staff. All eyes turned to me.
“Good morning, Lily,” Dr. Colleen said warmly as she opened her office door.“Come in. I was just finishing a conversation.”
I scanned the waiting room as she stepped aside. No Sarah. I could still feel her presence, though, like perfume that lingers long after the person is gone.
Once we were both seated, I folded my hands in my lap.“Were you just talking to Sarah Taylor?”
Dr. Colleen smiled politely.“I speak to many people throughout the day.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Her expression cooled.“Lily, it’s none of your business who I speak to throughout the day.”
I leaned back in the chair, trying to keep my tone even.“It’s just strange, seeing her here. Of all people.”
Before she could respond, there was a knock at the door. Sean’s voice came through.“Just making sure you made it in. I’ll be here in the waiting room.”
He closed the door behind him, and I let out a long breath.
Dr. Colleen folded her hands loosely in her lap.“You seemed frustrated when Sean came to the door. What happened there?”
I tried to shrug it off.“Nothing. He just likes to make sure I’m on time for things.”
“That sounds considerate.”
“Sure,” I said, forcing a smile.“Considerate.”
Her eyes didn’t leave mine.“But it bothered you.”
I hesitated.“It’s not that. He just… gets to me sometimes.”
“How?”
“He worries too much about how I come across. What I wear, what I say, when I show up.”
