Page 22 of The Fall Before Flight

“Leo.”

He sighs but doesn’t correct me. “You look tired this morning.”

I shrug. “Bad dreams.”

His pen scratches on paper. “Will you tell me about them?”

I consider lying but don’t have the energy. “I was getting married.” I snort. “Total nightmare.”

“Why was it a nightmare?” he asks softly.

“I don’t know. There was this… feeling.”

“Did it feel like you were making a mistake?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Realizing it’s too late to backpedal, I blurt, “I was happy. Completely, utterly ecstatic.”

There’s a weighted pause. “Why was it a nightmare?”

I close my eyes. “You know why.”

“You had a dream you were getting married, and in the dream you were happy.” Patient, measured tone. “Why is that a nightmare?”

“Don’t make me say it,” I whisper.

“I think you should.”

I press my fingers into my eyes. “I woke up! There, asshole. Happy now? It was a nightmare because I woke up!”

“How did that make you feel?”

Annoyed. Angry. Heartbroken.

But I keep my mouth shut.

“Is there a reason you won’t look at me?”

I lower my hands to my lap but don’t lift my eyes. “Because your face pisses me off,” I snap.

“And why is that?”

Let him in. He wants to help you.

“I don’t trust you,” I answer—both him and Callum’s voice in my head.

“How can I earn your trust?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. You can’t.”

“Do you trust anyone?”

“Jameson.”

“Even though he was the one who contacted us?”

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