Chapter 90

The next week passed, for the most part, uneventfully. I didn't want to avoid Roman, simply because I felt weak for doing so and because I thought it gave all the wrong messages. But the moment I stepped into his office and met his happy smile, a dozen emotions, including fear, whiplashed my insides so quickly that I had reached the far end of the estate without remembering if I had even bothered to close the door on my way out.

I felt pathetic.

Gus knew instantly that something was wrong. He started to grill me, even before he'd even reached me, and I was so overwhelmed within seconds that once I gave the basket to him, I had run from him as well.

My haven was the doctor's office. Dr. Mustache provided company without all the unnecessary attention and nosiness. He'd probably care if I passed out in front of him or started bleeding out, but my paltry feelings were about as important as the weather to him. And since he liked to keep the curtains closed, wasn't even that much.