I stay crouched down with Biz at my feet, and I hear the door close behind me. I’m grateful for the peace for a few moments, until I sense movement behind me.

Fuck me.

“I know you hate me right now, but I promise, you don’t want me to leave,” she says with a harsh tone, slightly padded with apology. She walks around to face me, and stoops down to meet my eyes. “Trust me, you’re going to want to hear what I have to say.”

“Landslide” by Smashing Pumpkins

Present Day

“GIRLS, I BELIEVE in happily ever after about as much as I believe in the tooth fairy, but there are a select few men in this world I would marry on the spot. Chris Hemsworth tops that list. If that fine specimen of a man wanted to put a ring on it, I’d have the Elvis impersonator booked before you can say, ‘Take me, Thor!’” Marlo puts the back of her hand to her forehead and sighs.

Abbie and Violet giggle at Marlo’s antics and flip to the next page of the magazine, obviously a Hollywood gossip rag. It’s good to see Violet smiling. After the police found insufficient evidence to press charges against her attacker, it’s been a rough road. Her therapy sessions with Caroline are going well, and she volunteers at the clinic, helping Marlo with lab testing. She’s a nursing major, so the position is a perfect fit … other than Marlo’s filterless mouth. Due to their similar circumstances, those two have formed quite a bond. Like the rest of us, I think Violet takes Marlo and loves her as she is.

Abbie snorts and covers her face with her hand while Marlo fans her crotch with previously mentioned gossip rag. She is another previous client turned volunteer, and over the last month, Violet and Abbie have been inseparable. Abbie is a new freshman at Northern U with no family support, so having an upperclassman show her the ropes is huge. Needless to say, Violet needs a little extra care these days, too.

I swipe the magazine from Marlo’s hand and smack her on the head with it. She grabs her head and scowls.

“Hey, what was that for?” she whines.

“Just trying to wake you up from your fantasy, my dear friend,” I reply with a laugh.

My hands fall slack at my sides when Cain walks into the hallway with Adam in tow. Our eyes meet, and I smile without thought. His expression is pained, and so unlike the Cain I know. It’s been a week since our argument at the party, and I haven’t heard a word from him … or Audrey, strangely enough.

Marlo tosses a stress ball at Adam’s head as a hello, but keeps gossiping with the girls. Adam catches the ball mid-air, tosses it between his legs, and lobs Marlo right in the boobs. He gets a high five from Cain for his efforts, and Cain almost smiles. Almost.

The main office area of the clinic is a wide-open space with desks littered throughout, and Adam and Cain sit down at one just out of earshot, no matter how hard I crane my ear. I resist the urge to shush the girls so I can tune in.

I seize the opportunity when Adam takes off toward the restroom, despite a warning glare from Marlo. I know our last encounter was anything but pleasant, but I give her a reassuring nod to suggest I have everything under control. Yeah, she doesn’t look convinced.

“Hey,” I say softly as I approach, and I swear he let’s out a frustrated sigh when he notices me standing there. I’m not deterred. “How’s it going?”

“Fine,” he says, with a raise of his eyebrows and a slight shoulder shrug.

“I took Eddie to the fig fields yesterday. Oh my gosh, Cain, you should have seen her,” I say with a high-pitched laugh. “It was a downpour of feathers and orange fur. Poor darling looked like she had the mange by the time we left.”

He says nothing. Not a damn word.

“Look, about the other night,” I say, a tremble in my voice. “I’m really sorry…”

“Don’t.”

One word. That’s all he gives me.

“I just want you to know—”

He stares at the floor and crosses his arms. “I just can’t do this with you, Celia. I’m sorry, but I can’t know anything else right now, okay?”

My jaw drops, surprised by his response. Cain has never shut me down before. He may not like what I have to say, but he always lets me say it.

Adam walks up behind Cain and slaps him on the back. “Hey Cece,” he says cheerfully, unaware of the exchange while he was gone. “Ready, Cain?”

“Yeah, man,” Cain mumbles, heading to the door without another word.

Adam watches Cain’s back for a moment, and then shifts questioning eyes in my direction. I must look pitiful because his expression softens and he wraps me in a bear hug.

“Give him some time,” Adam whispers, laying a kiss to the top of my head before following after Cain.

After the front door bell jingles, announcing the departure of the men, Marlo lets out a long, low whistle.

“I’m not a big fan of watching train wrecks, girl, and you two are a head-on collision waiting to happen lately.” Marlo shakes her head in disappointment. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but where’s the Cain and Celia who sprinkle glitter and shit rainbows. I want those two back.”

I shrug my slumped shoulders. “Yeah, me too.”

“Hey Trevor, how’s it going today?” I smile and grab a pen to fill out the visitation log. “I know Audrey isn’t here yet, but she should be driving up any second.”

Trevor lays his hand on top of the clipboard and pulls it to him with a nervous smile. Confused, I pull it back toward me, and he shakes his head.

“I’m so sorry, Cece, but I can’t let you in to see Lucas today.”

I shake my head and laugh. “She’ll be here any minute. I know she needs to be here, but—”

“That’s not the problem. It’s just that … look, I’m sorry, but … you’re no longer on Lucas’s list of approved visitors, chaperoned or otherwise.” Trevor’s voice trembles slightly as he delivers the blow.

“Get them on the phone,” I say, fuming.

“Wh-what?”

“Get Cindy and Gene Landry on the phone right now. They can’t … just do this! It’s not fair to me or Lucas.” My voice is frantic, even to my own ears, and tears threaten. I grip the counter for balance and peer out the front door, praying Audrey shows up and helps me fix this mess. Her parents never cease to amaze me with how despicable they can be.

Trevor lays a hand on top of mine and squeezes. “Honey, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but it wasn’t Mr. and Mrs. Landry’s decision.”

“Then who?” I demand, ready and willing to fight.

“Celia, Lucas took you off the visitors’ list himself.”

I sit slumped in a waiting room chair, sitting in a puddle of my tears and hysterics when Audrey returns from seeing Lucas. Her downturned lips tell me everything I need to know.

He doesn’t want to see me.

I crumple, my arms wrapping around my knees and my head falling to my lap. My sobs come in waves, one rolling into the other as Audrey rubs my back.

“He won’t budge, Cece. I’m sorry,” Audrey says, her own voice cracking with emotion. “I need you to be patient.”

“Patient?” I cry, looking up at her. “You think I haven’t been patient?”

“I know you have. I just need some time to fix this.” She lifts my face, and her thumbs wipe the mascara-blackened tears from my cheeks as she smiles. “I’m going to fix everything, I promise.”