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“Was it something we said? What triggered you?”
I shake my head, refusing to acknowledge the dooming reality awaiting me.
“Baby,” he says with a firm voice. “You need to tell me so I can remove the potential hazard.”
“Everything is a potential hazard for me.”
“Then I’ll remove everything.”
“Don’t be sweet. I can’t take it.”
“I’m anything but sweet. I’m a menace.”
“That you are.” I palm his cheek. “Can we go home? I want to annoy Sam a bit.”
“Should we go to a West End show later?”
“You don’t even like the theater.”
“But you do.”
And to cheer me up, he’s willing to watch things he doesn’t like.
This isn’t fair. I want the cold Eli back.
“We probably can’t get good tickets this late.”
“I can get any tickets you want. Up to and including a meet and greet with the actors backstage for hugs and pictures. Scratch that. Only pictures. No hugs.”
I smile but shake my head. “I’m not in the mood.”
“What’s this about, Ava? Is it due to your visit to Dr. Blaine?”
“How do you know? I took a taxi… She told you? Wait…you’re having me tracked.”
It’s not a question but a statement.
Ever since I woke up in the hospital, I’ve often felt that I wasn’t alone, but I deluded myself into thinking it was paranoia.
“Why?” I ask in a low tone, letting my hands fall limp on either side of me.
“I have to.” His closed-off coldness peeks through and I hate that I wished it back so soon.
“Okay…”
“Ava—”
“I get it,” I say with contained bitterness. “You’re worried I’ll go into a state of fugue and walk straight into oncoming traffic or jump off a building. So you have to make sure you know my location in order to stop it.”
“Jesus Christ, it’s not?—”
“You’re right. I could do it, and the worst part is that I wouldn’t be aware of it. Like the two years I completely wiped out. I’m a ticking bomb, Eli, and we both know it.”
“Nonsense. You’re absolutely fine.” He narrows his eyes. “What did Dr. Blaine tell you?”
“Nothing. She said she couldn’t talk to me without your presence.”
“And you despise that. You despise that I have any form of power over you.”
