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My lips tremble. “I… I don’t want to forget. Please. What’s going on? In there…what…who… ”
Something sad passes through her gaze as color returns to her skin. “We’re going to get ice cream.”
Ice…cream?
I scan her—makeup, dress, tights, take out bag with Zylus’s sandwich. Something is missing. What’s missing? Didn’t we stop somewhere else before coming here? I can’t remember where here even is.
“Do you not want ice cream?”
My head hurts. I squeeze my eyes shut. “No. Ice cream sounds…fine.”
She smiles. “Neat.”
As she wanders out of the overgrown yard with a broken gate, I look around. Mist coats my thoughts, jumbling them. I’m tired. I didn’t sleep well. I never sleep well. I’ve been so worried that Doliver hates me now I’ve been staying up even later than usual, listening to his music and writing way too many new chapters of This One’s for You, Beautiful.
I must have zoned out.
Like I do.
Rubbing my eyes, I follow Willow off the unkempt property. “Sorry.”
“For what?”
“I think I’m tired, so I’m sorry if I’ve ignored you or I’m spacing out.”
“Oh. Don’t worry.”
Don’t worry? I wish not worrying were easier.
“You’re coming to movie night tomorrow, aren’t you?” she asks as we leave behind rows of houses I don’t remember approaching
I bite my cheek. “Is Doliver going to be there? I don’t want to make him uncomfortable.”
“You don’t make him uncomfortable.” She lets her gaze drift skyward. “Why don’t you bring your puppy? Puppies make everything better, right?”
“Will cat Zylus get along with Oxford?”
“Sure.” Exhaling the puff of a laugh, she shuffles around in the bag, pops open the take out container, and tosses a chip in her mouth. “In fact, I’m certain they’re best friends.”
Chapter 8
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Movie night is probably better when I’m not losing my mind.
“Do you ever feel like you’re going insane?”
Alana snorts, and the sound crackles through my phone speaker as I hold Oxford’s leash and a bag of chips in my other hand. He’s been jumpy since I got home yesterday. I don’t know why. Normally, he’s not overly clingy, but he was so panicked this morning when I left for work, I contemplated calling in sick.
“I’m being serious, A.”
“I know. What makes you think you’re going more insane than usual?”
Taking a breath, I try to piece together all the faint things that just seem off lately. “I don’t know. I’ve been kind of disassociating a lot more, forgetful.”
“That’s normal for you, isn’t it?”
“When I went to call you two minutes ago, I couldn’t find my phone, so I spent five minutes looking for it, swearing I just had it because I was listening to music. And, well…”
