Bad Seed

“It’s about damn time you said that,” he said, laughing lightly.

We finished our lunch and went back to my car. We climbed inside, and I pulled out of the parking lot, heading toward Caleb’s apartment.

“Oh, wait,” he said suddenly. “Can we go the other way? I need to swing by the pharmacy if you have time.”

“Sure,” I said, flicking my turn signal. “What do you need at the pharmacy?”

“My painkillers,” he said.

I froze. I knew for a fact his pain pills were supposed to last him a month, and he’d barely had his new bottle for a week.

“Didn’t you just get a refill?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “But I lost those.”

“Again?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

I pulled into the nearest parking lot and stopped the car. I didn’t want to be driving when we had this conversation. I could already feel anger boiling inside my chest.

“Don’t look at me that way,” Caleb said. “I just lost them, okay? There’s nothing to freak out about.”

“Are you kidding?” I scoffed. “You expect me to believe that you lost those pills again? This is bullshit, Caleb.”

“You can believe whatever the hell you want to believe,” he said firmly. “I’m not going to defend myself to you.”

“Yes, you will!” I shrieked. “Unless you want me to call Dr. McGee right now and tell him you’re abusing your prescription.”

“Calm the fuck down,” Caleb said, his eyes flashing dangerously. “I’m not abusing the damn pills!”

“Then, where the hell are they?” I screamed. “Don’t lie to me, Caleb. Don’t you dare lie to me. I’ve seen too many cases like this to be fooled. People don’t just lose their meds!”

“Right,” he said, laughing without humor. “Because everyone is perfect, just like you. No one makes mistakes. No one ever fucks up unless they’re high or stupid, right?”

“Don’t make this about me!” I said. “You’re the one who—”

“Who what?” he demanded. “Who fell three stories and shattered his leg? Yeah, I am! That was me. Not you. So you don’t get to decide when and how I need painkillers. Back the hell off and mind your own damn business!”

“It is my business!” I screamed. “I’m your physical therapist, Caleb! This is my job.”

“Really?” he asked, eyebrows raised. “Your job is to scream at me in your car? Your job is to take me out to lunch because I can’t drive myself? Your job is to fuck me in my bed almost every night this week and then leave like it meant nothing?”

His words hit me like a slap in the face. I felt my blood boil and my face flush. I’d never felt this angry in my life. Not only was he lying to me about the painkillers, but he was practically calling me a slut. I couldn’t stand to look at him anymore.

I cranked the engine and sped out of the parking lot without another word.

“Where the hell are we going now?” he asked.

“I’m taking you home,” I said without emotion. “And then I’m going to call Dr. McGee and make sure he doesn’t give you another prescription.”

“You’re fucking insane,” Caleb said through gritted teeth.

“Maybe,” I said. “But I’m also a trained medical professional. Contrary to what you might think, this is my job, Caleb. As for everything else, well, you won’t have to worry about that anymore.”

Caleb sat back

in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. He’d never been one for confrontation. Fights always escalated quickly when he was around, so he tried to avoid them. With me, that wasn’t a problem. I wasn’t afraid to fight with him, to yell at him, to tell him what I thought.

Caleb insisted he wasn’t using, but I didn’t believe him. It was the only answer that made sense. Adults didn’t just lose their painkillers twice in a row. That didn’t happen. He must be making an excuse to cover the fact that he’d been abusing his drugs. I couldn’t believe I’d been stupid enough to miss it all this time.