Beauty In Her Madness (Winterland Tale #3) - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,63

me from downing them.

“Dinah?” Dr. Bell held the glass out to me. “I can’t help you unless you want it.”

I wanted it. I wanted to be sane, normal, happy.

Tossing the pills into my mouth, I downed the water. Again, it tasted slightly sweet, but that could have been from the candy I had earlier at work.

A grin spread over Dr. Bell’s face as I handed the water back to her. “Good girl.”

A flicker of confusion battled my lashes. Good girl? What an odd thing to say to your patient.

“I would like to see you again Monday.”

“I have school and work.” I grabbed my coat, hitching my bag stuffed with my elf costume onto my arm.

“Don’t you think your mental health should come first?” She led me to the door. “Time is running out.”

“What?” The last sentence she muttered so fast I wasn’t sure I heard it right.

“See you Monday, Dinah. Have a good weekend.” She motioned me to the exit, shutting the door the moment I was out of the way.

I nodded at her receptionist, who I couldn’t remember the name of for the life of me. I usually was good with details. Stepping by the door, I took in the coatrack. I had always seen it but never thought about it until now. My gaze latched on to a black wool jacket trimmed with fur hanging from it.

My feet paused, my heart picking up cadence. Reaching for the lapel, I held my breath. Right where I somehow knew was a rose pin.

“Can I help you with something?” the receptionist called to me.

“No-no, I’m good.” I yanked my hand away and took off out the door. Anxiety burned at my nerves, dread pooling in my stomach.

Don’t get paranoid, Dinah. You probably subconsciously saw it when you came in, not realizing you did. Logic berated me, while another voice wondered how I’d know a detail as small as the pin on her jacket.

Even more unsettled than when I went in, I ran for my car full speed, hearing my new pills bounce off the plastic bottle like a pinball machine, screaming to the world I was insane.

My cell beeped as I climbed into my car, a text from Scott.

Where the hell are you? Thought you’d be home by 5?

I looked at the clock on my dash blinking out 5:46.

“Shit!” Tossing my bag on the seat, I got the car moving, heading for our place. When the hell did it get so late?

Speeding across town, I got home fifteen minutes later, running up the stairs.

“Scott, I’m so sorry!” I burst through the door to find faces other than my boyfriend’s there.

“Dinah!” David and Marc yelled, holding up their beers in greeting as I entered, making me feel like I rammed face-first into a wall. They looked ready for a party in nice pants, button-down shirts, and holiday-themed ties. I couldn’t fight the annoyance of not knowing they’d be here. I was already dreading being around people I didn’t really know all night, engaging in small talk.

“Hey.” I stepped inside, shutting the door, pulling my attention to the figure in the kitchen. Leanne was dressed in a skater-style, short, sparkly, red dress and heels, her hair curled and makeup done. She looked really pretty. I normally saw her makeup-less in khakis and polo shirts with her hair in a ponytail.

Her head turned to me, and for a brief second, I swore I saw a flicker of fear, guilt, and jealousy, but it dissolved into a soft smile.

“Hey, Dinah.”

“Hey.” I stared at her longer than expected, trying to figure out what I felt seeing her. She had kissed my boyfriend, in our apartment, with me in the next room. Yet I couldn’t seem to drag up any sense of anger or hate for her.

Maybe the drugs were numbing my mood, but I felt no resentment at all.

“You look really pretty.” I motioned to her.

Her eyes widened, and she blushed, like my compliment had made her night. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, moving deeper into the room.

“Thank you.”

“You do, Grodsky.” David swallowed a gulp of beer, nodding at her. “Didn’t even recognize you.”

She made a face at him, their banter following me to the bedroom.

Scott sat on the bed, pulling his holiday-themed socks on, his expression anything but merry and bright.

“Hey…” I stepped in.

He didn’t answer, finishing getting dressed.

“Scott, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it got so late. My session should have ended—”

“Doesn’t matter now.” He went to the mirror, fixing his tie. “We’ll leave as soon