Page 55 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

She taps my bracelet. “What’s the story with this, if you don’t mind me asking?”

I snort. “When we were nine, I basically talked Caleb into pretend marrying me. It was just braided thread back then, nothing… substantial.” I twist it around my wrist. “I lost it at one of the foster homes, but I think Caleb was the one who stole it back. It was my own fault for not wearing it, but I didn’t want it to break. He gave it back to me at the masquerade ball.”

“Before he told us the lies about our daughter.”

“Yeah.”

“The nine-year-old Margo was ready to commit.” She chuckles. “If only we all had the courage that kids do.”

“Well, that was before I broke his heart, and he broke mine,” I mumble.

She twists toward me. “If you listen to anything I say, I hope it’s this. Hearts heal. Scars fade. Memories of the past… they don’t last very long, either. If you love him, love him with everything you have, and I promise it’ll be worth it.”

I blink back tears. “Is that how you feel about Robert?”

“Absolutely. We may not seem like it at times, though.” She wipes at her own cheeks. “Time has worn us down. But we put work and love into our relationship every day.”

“It’s funny… I never got to have a conversation about relationships or sex or love.” I roll my eyes. “Mom and Dad had a weird, angry relationship. The Ashers weren’t the best role models, either. And the foster families…” I laugh under my breath. “None of them really had their shit together. Some pretended, of course, but we saw through it.”

“I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that,” she says.

She glances at her watch and jumps. “Oh, dear. You’re going to be late to therapy.”

“You’re going to make me go? Now?” I stand and go to the opposite wall. “I want to stay here.”

She’s quiet. “You’re right. You should be able to stay. But…”

I whirl around.

“You should talk about how you feel to someone objective.”

“Can’t we move it back?” I plead. “At least… later today, tomorrow, something?”

Lenora watches me for a moment, then brushes her bangs out of her eyes. “Let me make a phone call, okay? How about you get us something from the vending machine.”

She hands me a few dollars, shooing me into the hall.

My whole body is numb. I walk down the hall and around the corner to the little alcove of vending machines. I get each of us a coffee and a granola bar, then trudge back.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, like someone is watching me.

I spin around, but the hallway is practically empty. Just a nurse walking away from me, pushing a cart, and another woman in scrubs at the nurses’ station.

I back away from that spot, rounding the corner. I get the same feeling again and turn, coffee sloshing through the little hole in the lid.

“Fuck, ow.” I set down the coffee and shake out my hand, wincing at the red spots that already appear on my skin.

The hallway is empty.

Thoroughly spooked, I grab the cup and rush back to the waiting room.

How was it so busy not too long ago, and deserted now?

Lenora grimaces. “She wasn’t happy about rescheduling until I explained why. Interesting woman.” She takes the coffee and granola bar with a smile. “I think you’ll actually like her. She’s… sassy.”

“A sassy talk therapist,” I repeat. I tear into my bar. “I guess I’ll just have to catch her next week.”

“Angela told me she got you a new phone?”

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