Page 168

“Back to bed.”

“Oh, no you don’t. You have an appointment with Luke Fox at 9:30. Go get dressed.” He turned on his heel and headed downstairs.

Oh no.

Could this day get any worse? The man who makes little girls cry. Well, I already had a head start on him today.

I showered, dressed in jeans and one of my new tops, then went to face angry, mean, son-of-a-bitch Dylan.

“Have you had anything to eat?” he snapped when I entered the kitchen.

I shook my head.

“Will you?”

I shook my head.

He glared at me and then he closed his eyes as if in defeat. “Please,” he asked.

I shook my head.

“I’m used to the silent treatment, you know. I get that from Lulu.”

Staring down at my hands, I concentrated very hard on not bursting into tears.

He sighed. “Let’s see if Luke Fox can talk some sense into you.”

Dylan put the top down on the car, but we drove in silence, the atmosphere between us icy despite the warmth of the morning sun. I remembered the early days when Dylan was staying with me in Kent. I’d not said much then and he seemed to accept it. I strove for some of that numb detachment.

“Wait here. I want to talk to Luke alone for a minute,” Dylan said outside Luke’s office.

I sat on one of the uncomfortable orange plastic chairs and waited while Dylan went in, feeling miserable. Could this day get any worse?

He came out about five minutes later.

“Don’t mention the ghost,” he murmured as I walked past him.

As if I would.

Luke smiled when I joined him in his office.

“Hello, Emily. I hear you’ve been having an interesting time since we last spoke.” He gestured to a chair. “Please sit.”

I sat down, crossed my arms and legs, and glared at him.

“I can see that you are as happy to be here as you were when I last saw you.”

“I’ve cried several times already today. Just so you know,” I said, my tone saccharin sweet.

Luke had the grace to laugh. “Dr. Knightley told me you took some illicit drugs last night at a party.”

I rolled my eyes. Dylan was Dr. Knightley now, and my shame was up for discussion with anyone. “What of it?” I said through clenched teeth.

“Have you done that before?”

“No.” I tried to keep my anger in check.

“So why did you feel the need yesterday?”