Page 34 of Bullet
I wince as I think about her friend. “I’m not sure how I feel about therapy yet.”
Natalie laughs. “Yeah, it can be difficult to get into. Opening up to strangers is never easy or fun.”
“And therapy isn’t for everyone,” Tara says.
“Very true,” Kaitlyn murmurs.
I don’t know why, but I start to feel uncomfortable with the subject at hand. I know they’re trying to be helpful and everything, but I just don’t want to talk about it. Lainey must pick up on my mood shift because she squeezes my hand and changes the subject.
“Oh my god, did I tell you guys that the twins were called into the principal’s office?” she asks.
“Oh god. What did they do now?” Tara asks with laughter in her voice.
“So, apparently, the school resource officer came in and was doing their whole ‘say no to drugs and alcohol’ thing. I guess they told the kids that they needed to stay away from gangs and MCs. He apparently said MCs are bad. Let’s just say our girls did not let that fly,” she says, making us all laugh.
“No, I bet they didn’t,” Natalie muses.
Once again, the conversation shifts, and it becomes lighter. As I sit and listen, I can’t help but watch these women and feel nothing but gratitude. For the first time in a long time, I feel seen and heard by someone other than Bullet.
And for that I’m grateful.
The sound of laughter catches my attention. I look across the room and see the girls are all sitting together, laughing and having a good time. Something about the scene puts me at ease. For once, Harlee isn’t drunk or high. She’s just having a good time while completely sober.
She must feel my eyes on her because she looks over at me. She winks and then looks away. For some reason, that simple action makes my heart race. Shit, when it comes to Harlee, everything about her makes my heart race.
“Could you stare any harder?” Wrath asks as he approaches.
“I don’t know, but I’d be willing to give it a try,” I joke, making him laugh.
For a minute we’re quiet while we stand and watch our girls across the room.
“How’s she doing?” he asks quietly.
“She’s hanging in there,” I tell him honestly.
“Do you think she’s going to pull herself out of this downward spiral?”
The thought of her continuing on this path makes me sick.
“Time will tell, but I hope so.”
“I can’t really blame her. The girl’s been through a lot already.”
“And she’s only nineteen,” I remind him.
“She’s going to therapy, though, right? I think that’s what I heard.”
“Yeah, we’ll see how long that lasts, though. I have this sneaking suspicion she’s more like Tara than Natalie.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wrath smile at just the mention of his girl.
“Nothing wrong with that. Not all of us are meant to be locked in a room with a stranger and forced to share our feelings.”
I wince as I think about it.
“Yeah, no thanks. I think I would rather have a root canal,” I say, making him chuckle.
“Congratulations, by the way.”
