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Chapter 71

1 MONTH LATER

Round 2: It’s the second ti to break up with Lee, and this tireed to stay quiet To stay behind the one-way glass in the adjoining room Brant hates it; he cursed us both until he lost control and left the roo the lines I have been coached through, the lines that will bring Lee out of Brant’s hypnosis

My initial breakup atte Lee in to his condition With the rouped Decided to share the condition and hope for better results

Teeks ago, Dr Terra told Lee about the DID Lee refused to believe it, wanted to talk to Brant, then trashed the roo facts that laid the truth out in big, fat letters that a child would understand and believe Lee resisted, vocalizing his hatred for Brant in every four-letter word known to h the outburst, unable to watch the systematic breakdown of a man who a part of me dearly loves

Since then, Dr Terra has spoken with hiressive andhe spoke but didn’t stand, didn’t even open his eyes Just laid on the couch and cherry-picked the questions he felt like answering Today, I just hope he is open I hope he listens I hope he doesn’t break my heart any further

“Lucky” His eyes open and he sits up Looks around I wait for his body to tighten, for hi to his feet with clenched fists, but he doesn’t Only rubs his neck and shoots rin “Still stuck in crazy town, huh?”

“Yeah”

He holds out his arms “Come here I need to smell you Touch you”

Such a basic request I walk forward, breaking our plan already, but I need him Miss him I sit sideways on his lap and lean into his chest as he inhales againstthe skin right below le bit of his hands as he runs theo of my name as he kisses a line from my ear to my collarbone “Don’t do it,” he whispers “I knohat you’re going to say and you can’t say it”

“I have to,” I breathe, his hand running over the top of ers pushing roughly against any atteether I think of thethis instance for Brant’s eyes later Of the script that I am supposed to stick to The one in which I tell this beautiful man that I never loved him That I only dated him to keep tabs on Brant That I want him to leave so that I can be with Brant Lies Black, dirty lies I feel the push of his fingers as he slides his hand higher upbut helping his cause I picked out this skirt Pulled it on thiswhen I could have worn a hundred more restrictive outfits Did I know? Did I pick it intentionally? A the question when part of me already knows the answer

“You don’t have to,” he says, his hand traveling higher as his other hand prieskisses in between his words Kisses that claw at my skin and leave marks that won’t wash off

“I do, Lee” I fully abandon the script the ers of his hand at the silk ofhot lines over h the fabric, hisBrant through this The only way it ork is if you leave”