Page 148 of Love Sick

Grace:I miss you too Julian.

When I arrive home Sunday afternoon, I throw my bag on the floor and fall face-first onto my bed. Being home with Mom and Dad healed some of the ache in my soul, but I’m still only half-living. I groan into my coverlet as I visualize the godforsaken schedule and how I’m slated to work the next twenty-six days in a row.

With a sigh, I push to my elbows and check my email—something I’ve avoided all weekend. My gaze catches on a message from Dr. Chen.

Dr. Rose,

This message is to inform you of the specifics regarding the meeting held by Steven Langston with the department heads this past Friday.

As you are aware, the negative impact of gossip in the workplace is far-reaching, and in an effort to quell the repercussions to both you and others who have been the victims of unfounded rumors, we have decided to assign a task force. This task force will make efforts to subdue the toxic culture which has developed, and create resident education programs to address the elements which are contributing to it. We would welcome you as part of this task force if you are interested, but if not, I do understand.

I hope this information serves to alleviate some of your stress. While we cannot take the current rumors away, we can at least try to improve ourselves moving forward.

Warmly,

Dr. Chen

I stare at the email until my eyes water, reading it over and over again, uncertain how to feel.

On one hand, a sense of justice envelops me. Here in my hand is absolute proof that the damage done to me is real, that these rumors about me are more than just idle gossip, that they have hurt more than just my feelings.

On the other, it can’t heal the scars that are already torn into my soul.

But at least it’s something—not something I ever want to be a part of, that’s for sure. Why should I spend effort trying to fix what someone else broke? But maybe it will be enough to stem the river of gossip against me. Maybe I won’t have to keep paddling upstream.

Someone pounds at my front door and I jolt. “Who is it?”

Instead of answering, the knocker pounds again.

Jeez. It’s either an angry neighbor or Kai. No one else is so aggressive. I push myself off the bed and head into the living room. The door swings open wide.

The girl on the other side freezes my blood.

“Hey, Grace.” Tori Santini shoots me a fake, placid smile identical to Julian’s. “Can we talk?”

She doesn’t wait for me to open the door. Instead, she shoves her way in. I remain frozen as she slams the door and flops onto my sectional. With her silky hair pulled into a topknot, her black spike earrings serve as a warning. Her exploratory glare makes my hackles rise.

She looks so much like her brother.

“What are you doing here, Tori?”

“Oh. I came to visit my brother.” The fake smile reappears. “He’s sleeping, so I thought me and you could catch up. Girl talk.”

I cross my arms. “Sleeping off his fun night with some other girl?”

Fire blazes from Tori’s dark eyes, far more obvious than it ever is in her brother’s. “You don’t get to be mad about the way he heals whatyoubroke.”

“This is none of your business.” The barbed wire constricts in my chest again, and tears rise to the surface.

Tori sits up. “You’re right. It isn’t my business. Butheis my business.”

I collapse onto the opposite side of the sectional. “You here to give me a warning?”

“No.”

“Then what?” I reach for the box of tissues. What does it matter if she sees me cry? I probably won’t ever see her again after this.

“You might not agree, but Julian is great. He’s in pain because of you and that pisses me off. I’d love to wring your neck, but I won’t. I just wanted to say my piece.”

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