Trust Me

Read Online Trust Me by Romily Bernard - Free Book Online Page A

Book: Trust Me by Romily Bernard Read Free Book Online
Authors: Romily Bernard
Ads: Link
suit sits in the corner and takes notes.
    â€œShe’s from some government agency,” Alex whispers as we find seats in the semicircle. “She stops by every month or so to check on the program. I think it’s for licensing or something.”
    Or something. The armchairs have been pulled away from the television and I pick the farthest one from the official. Thing is, out of everyone here, she seems the most legit. I’ve been around social workers enough to spot the type: bloodshot eyes from long hours, tote bag swollen with case files.
    Group therapy is also familiar. I’m expected to sharemore since I’m the newest arrival and I hit all the high notes: Mom died. Dad in jail. I enjoy computers, chocolate, and long walks on beaches.
    Norcut’s fingers tighten around her pen just like they used to. “And what do you want to work on during your time with us? What personal goal would you like to achieve?”
    I’d like to stay alive. I’d like to know why Griff’s searching for me. I’d like my old life back.
    No, scratch that. I don’t want to go back to that life. I want parts of it, but not all of it anymore. So that means . . . what?
    I have no idea.
    And by this time, I’ve taken so long to answer, Norcut gives me a little smile. “Is there anything you’d like to do over? Any mistakes you’ve made that you want to make sure you never make again?”
    Thousands. I shrug. I get what she’s doing, but this is why therapy can be so damn pointless: They think you can distill everything you do into one or two character flaws. I have way more faults than that.
    And way more mistakes . . . still . . . “Trust,” I say at last. “I need to work on trusting people.”
    Norcut beams and tells me what a good job I’m doing. Then she has the group tell me what a good job I’m doing. This is a therapist’s version of passing out treats because I sat on command. Or rolled over. Take your pick.
    Norcut wants to talk to all of us about boundaries now. People have them. We shouldn’t cross them—especiallywhen those boundaries are set by the government and are there for people’s privacy.
    I love this part, but for all the wrong reasons. Boundaries? Seriously? I just hijacked someone’s wireless device. The irony is effing hilarious, but Norcut looks serious, Alex looks serious, the Bookends—Connor and Jake—look very serious, and Kent? Kent looks like he’s sleeping with his eyes open.
    â€œWe haven’t heard much from you, Kent,” Norcut says, recrossing her legs and tugging down the hem of her navy skirt. “What do you enjoy most about working with systems and computers?”
    â€œComputers are their own world and that world has no choice but to adore me.”
    The agency woman scribbles more in her notebook, but Norcut seems pleased. “You’re living up to your potential here, aren’t you?”
    Kent nods, smiles.
    Alex kicks my ankle and I almost giggle. The weird feeling from earlier is gone, replaced with something that . . . honestly? Something that feels normal . And it can’t possibly be normal. None of this is remotely normal. We’re a bunch of computer nerds locked in an office building. It’s either the start of the world’s geekiest horror flick or the world’s geekiest X-Men movie.
    But everyone else seems chill about it so that makes me . . . the crazy one?
    After therapy, I follow Alex to our room. Once inside,she kicks off her tennis shoes and climbs—fully clothed—into bed.
    â€œTalk to me.” I stand between Alex’s bed and her dresser. “Please? You know there’s more going on here than they’re telling us.”
    She groans. “If you want to go off the deep end trying to figure this place out, go ahead, but you’re not taking me.”
    â€œGive me some credit here,” I say, watching Alex

Similar Books

Lies the government told you

Andrew P. Napolitano

The Virgin Bet

Olivia Starke

Touch (1987)

Elmore Leonard

The Coffee Shop

Lauren Hunter

Howzat!

Brett Lee

Four Times Blessed

Alexa Liguori

The Black Tattoo

Sam Enthoven

The Prince of Eden

Marilyn Harris