Page 283 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“Cool.” I ignored them both and climbed onto the counter to get a mug, filling it halfway with coffee and the rest with cream and way too much sugar, and then topped it with whipped cream.

I waited for Reuben to say something about my sugar intake. He kept his mouth shut.

Sipping on the coffee, I came into the dining room and leaned against the counter. “Sorry I slept in,” I said.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, keeping his eyes on my face. “Are you feeling okay? Do you need more water?”

“If I drink any more water I’m going to throw up. You know my stomach is weird in the mornings.”

“Yeah,” Simon said, cocking his head, studying me. “You’ve never been one for breakfast, have you?”

Reuben seemed to ponder something, then flipped his phone out. “Bec... quick question. Alice’s meds. Would they cause her nausea?... oh... interesting.... Okay. I’ll run that by her. Thanks... yeah, we’ll be there soon. We’re getting a late start... good. Okay.” He hung up. Glancing at me, he said, “Would you be opposed to taking your meds with lunch or breakfast instead of before bed?”

“I don’t really care,” I shrugged.

“Becca seems to think it might help.”

“Well, let’s not question what Becca says,” I rolled my eyes.

I was irritated, okay? They were both being nice, and I was naked, and neither were responding the way I wanted them to. I strutted back into my room and shut the door, resisting the urge to slam it. Pressing my ear up to the door, I heard Reuben say, “You weren’t kidding.”

A moment later, there was a knock at the door. “Alice?” Reuben’s voice called out.

“Yes Sir.”

“Can I come in for a moment?”

Ugh. Fine.“Yes Sir.”

He opened the door. “Do you still want to go back to Cullowhee?”

He was giving me a choice. I could stay here, maybe hang out with Simon or some of my other friends... only I was still avoiding The Underground right now. Even though Woodrow wasn’t allowed in, his cop buddies and other Dom friends had started harassing me online, and I didn’t want to run into them either.

Also he’d be gone, and I’d have literally nothing to do but be mad at myself, be bored, and get depressed.

“Yeah,” I said. “I think that would be a good idea.”

“Okay. Simon brought your car over. I’m going to drop him off and then swing by the center to pick up Rachel. Do you want me to wait for you, or do you want to go when you’re ready?”

So many fucking choices. My head was pounding. Iwantedto go back to bed.

But I didn’t want him to leave me.

“Give me fifteen minutes? And I’ll drive behind you.”

“Of course.” He shut the door. I was almost annoyed at the lack of command from him. But I knew he was tiptoeing carefully due to my running away yesterday.

My things were already packed from my preparation the day before. Toiletries, meds, not much clothing because most of my stuff was still there. On a whim, I decided to take my telescope. Maybe I could drive up to the Asheville airport observatory and see something amazing. I hadn’t had a chance to do that over the winter.

Reuben saw me come out of my room with my duffel over my shoulder and my telescope in my arms. He offered to help me, and I handed him the duffel, not looking him in the eye as I walked out the door.

The long drive backto Cullowhee was only manageable because Reuben drove by himself, and I drove with Rachel. We chatted and listened to music. I told her about the people at Greenwood Valley, and I could tell she was excited.

She confessed to me that the past few weeks at The Weston House had been stressful, because she felt like she was taking up a spot that could go to another girl who needed it more. But she also told me that she was excited to meet a group of people who wouldn’t judge her.

“We don’t even have to tell them,” I said. “You can just be a friend of mine who wants to get out on her own. You can make up your own story,” I shrugged. “Alex will know, of course, but she won’t tell. I guarantee it.”

“Who is Alex?”

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