Page 7 of The Voices are Back

What happened to me? I grew up. Got rid of the boobs, and started doing my hair. All of which would be things you knew if you cared to check in on me. Which you didn’t.

Not to mention, the one letter I’d written him while he was in prison had come back with a single comment written across the top. ‘Don’t write me anymore.’

That was it.

And that was the final straw in my “you’re never going to have Aodhan back” cup.

With that horrible reminder running through my brain, I twisted away from his body and slowly stood.

I took stock of all my injuries, and was happy to find that there weren’t any. Other than a bruised hand.

He helped me to my feet, and instead of staying close, like I wanted to, I backed away, putting as much distance between us as I could possibly get.

He didn’t miss the move and didn’t like the distance I’d created between our two bodies.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I’ll be fine.”

My head hurt like a bitch, and I didn’t know if it was because I’d hit it on the way down, or because I just had a headache like usual.

I’d have to go back and look at the camera feed to make sure that I shouldn’t be giving myself concussion protocols. Those were zero fun, sir.

“When did you move back?” he asked, his eyes taking everything in. “You own this place?”

I smiled weakly and said, “I’ve been here a year and a half now. And yes, I own this place.”

I bought it from an owner that had cancer and was about to pass away at any moment. I guess his diseased soul recognized mine, because he’d welcomed me into his life, taught me the ropes, and had sold it to me for all of seventeen dollars. Seventeen dollars of which had been the only cash to my name at the time.

Being sick cost money, and let’s just say, I never had an overabundance of that.

“Are you a doctor?” he asked, sounding hopeful.

That’s when I laughed. The laugh sounded wrong, even to my own ears.

The frown on Aodhan’s face told me so.

“Morrigan isn’t a doctor. She’s a college dropout, right?” Theresa added oh so helpfully.

The shit.

I had no doubt she knew exactly what she was saying and making me appear unflattering was her intention.

Though, I sensed that was more because she could tell I was uncomfortable, and not because she was a complete bitch.

Theresa showed her love in weird ways. That’s why we worked so well.

“And the bank closes in like, ten minutes. You might want to go and get that done before they do.” Theresa handed me my bank zipper pouch stuffed with money.

I took it, nodded at her in thanks, and then said, “Thank you.”

With a small smile toward Aodhan, I headed out, and hoped that Folsom was still waiting on me, and the bank wouldn’t close early like they were known to do.

I was super-duper proud of myself, too. I didn’t once look back. Not even when my soul screamed at me to.

CHAPTER 2

Stay in drugs, eat your school, and don’t do vegetables. Or however that saying goes.

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