Page 125 of Graves

Luke laughs and pulls into a parking spot right next to the courtyard entrance.

I stay seated, picking at the skin around my thumb. “It was a nice evening,” I say. I’m searching for the right words to create some distance again.

It was just dinner, I tell myself. And there are no signs that everything is starting over.

“Yeah,” Luke confirms and turns off the engine. “Like I said, the patients are waiting for you.”

A smile crosses my face. “I—”

A sudden knocking on the window makes me flinch.

“What the hell?” Luke turns his head too.

It’s Aran, and just ahead, Fox is turning the corner in his black SUV.

“Fuck.” I unbuckle my seatbelt and get out. “Aran… hi.”

“What the fuck…? What are you doing in his car?” Aran’s face is rough with a few days of stubble, and there’s an erratic energy to his movements that tells me he’s on drugs.

“I don’t know why that’s any of your business,” I snap back, but I’m shocked at his unkempt appearance.

Aran yanks the car door wider open and leans in. “You!” he snarls at Luke. “What are you planning with him? Leave him the hell alone!”

“I don’t see how that concerns you.” Luke unbuckles and starts to get out.

“No,” I say, holding out my hand. “Stay in the car.”

Luke is good with words, but Aran wouldn’t hesitate to punch him.

“Stop manipulating Koh, you piece of shit!” Aran rants on. “You think you can do whatever you want with him? That’s over!”

“He didn’t do anything.” I haul Aran away from the car—he’s about to climb into the passenger seat and get physical.

Aran rips himself free and shoves me back. “Can’t you see how toxic this guy is?” he remarks. “He’s already got you wrapped around his finger again. He probably promised you the moon, and you don’t see that it’s just his tactic to make you dependent on him again.”

“He didn’t promise anything!”

“You don’t actually believe that!” Aran is almost unstoppable. “What did he lure you with, huh? Love? Trust? Stability?”

My mouth falls open.

How does he know that?

But instead of acknowledging that Aran isn’t entirely wrong, a switch flips inside me and I’m the one shoving him away. “Everything you can’t give me!” I snap. “You’re the one acting toxic here! You’re jealous and acting like a maniac. You’re unstable and incapable of a healthy relationship.” Furious, I turn back to Luke. “Wait here. I’m just grabbing a few things.”

Without waiting for Aran’s reaction, I walk past him toward the back entrance.

I can’t talk to him anymore. Aran is poison for me!

I have to get out of here.

In my room, I throw a bag onto the bed and pack a few clothes. Aran follows me into the bathroom when I go for my toiletry bag, talking nonstop—nonsense I simply tune out. As I’m about to leave the apartment again, he catches my arm.

“Please! Don’t go! Sleep on it first.”

I pull free and leave the apartment. I pick up Pixie at Harriet’s and return to the car.

Luke doesn’t say a word as I toss my bag in the back seat, climb in, and buckle up.