Chapter 37
Chapter thirty-seven
Sage
Itense when I see the name flashing on my phone, keeping my eyes on the screen and not allowing them to wander to Barrett sitting beside me in the waiting room of the Nova’s counselor's office. I answer.
“Hello?”
“I thought I made myself clear yesterday.” This is a tone from Liam I’ve never heard before. He’s known for his cheery persistence, not a threatening one. “And yet you aren’t in your office where Dorian is waiting for you.”
I swallow before responding, hoping to control the shaking in my lungs so it doesn’t come out in my voice. “I booked today off a while ago, Liam. I’m taking my sister to her appointments and spending the day with her.”
“You’ve taken enough time off with your sister. Let the rest of your family step in and get in here within the next hour.”
“Liam, I can’t do that.” No matter what is on the line, I won’t abandon Nova when I’m the cause of her current situation. “I can’t leave my sister like this.”
I’m positive the next words from him will be that I’m fired, but instead, I hear muffled words and another male voice nearby.
Dorian.
Liam sighs. “This is the last time you take time off for a long time. You’ve maxed out.
You’re meeting with Dorian first thing in the morning in your office.
I’ll take care of your other clients today, since you didn’t do that yesterday either.
” Each word he says gets maliciously sweeter.
“Enjoy your day off, Sage.” Liam ends the call.
Barrett leans closer, his lips brushing my ear. “I could kill him for you.”
My eyes bulge and I turn toward him, shocked. He wags his brows at his joke, but I see this is his way of covering his true feelings. Anger dilates his pupils and his jaw tenses. But that doesn’t stop the bubbling laughter trying to spurt out of me. “You can’t kill my boss.”
“I can. I probably will.” All humour is gone. “Sage, I don’t want you to go to work tomorrow.”
“Are you … Will you …” Why the hell can’t I get the question out?
“Am I going to lock you up so you can’t go into work?” His voice is barely audible, but he’s so close I can hear his heartbeat. The waiting room is empty except for the receptionist. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“No, pet. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.” Tilting his head, he brings his lips to mine, barely brushing them against me. “I know what I want to do with you.”
The counselor’s office door opens and we fly apart like teenagers caught playing seven minutes in heaven. I feel the heat in my cheeks and I quickly stand, begging gravity to help the blood drain from my face.
Nova stands beside her therapist, unmoving and unblinking.
“I’ll see you next week, Nova.” Her therapist has a soothing smile, the kind that either helps or makes one suspicious of her motives, but Nova has improved while seeing her so I know she’s a good match for my sister.
“Right. See you next week.” Nova moves, walking toward us with a similar ghostly look in her eyes that she had the first time I brought her here.
“Let’s go have lunch, ladies.” Barrett stands and gestures for us to go first, acting as if he’s oblivious to the undercurrents coming from my sister.
Nova is quiet for the drive and at the restaurant. Barrett didn’t ask where we wanted to go. He took us to a family style bistro and asked for a seat on the patio.
“How was your session today?”
“Good. She thinks I need to find a hobby or a job. Better if it’s a hobby that could turn into a job.”
“Do you feel like you’re ready for that?”
“I don’t feel much of anything.” She stabs at her salad, the fork hitting hard against the plate below the greens.
The awkward silence has thickened enough to make every sound harsh by the time we drop her off at home. Walking her to her door, I step inside, but she stops me.
“I’m good. I don’t need a sitter or a keeper. Don’t keep your friend waiting.”
“Nova.” I reach out for her but she flinches.
“You don’t date. Or you don’t have relationships, and your dates are few and far between. But I lose my husband and now you get a boyfriend.”
It isn’t the right time to point out that she has no idea how often I’ve dated. My sister hasn’t had the capacity to focus on anyone else for a long time, through no fault of her own, but she’s only seeing what she wants to see right now. And seeing me with someone hurts her.
Nova walks into me, forcing me back outside so she can shut the door and lock it. I don’t have a response for her anyway. There’s nothing I can say right now that will make her feel better.
“She’s angry,” Barrett says after opening my door for me and getting in his own side.
“She’s hurting. I told you I didn’t want you to come.”
“Sage.” He waits until I look at him. “I’m sorry my being here hurt her.” But he offers no apology or excuse for being here. I know it has to do with Dorian and his sudden interest in me, but that’s work related. What could he possibly do to me outside of work?