Chapter 61

Ryan hesitates, still standing in the doorway, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he glares at us. Julie’s patience has clearly reached its limits. “Leave, Ryan,” she says. He takes one last look at her, and then, after what feels like an eternity, he steps outside. I feel the tension release from my shoulders, a relief washing over me. But Julie isn’t done. She strides out after him. I follow her, partly to make sure Ryan doesn’t pull any funny business, but mostly because watching him get humiliated is proving to be its own special kind of therapy. Grant, the security guard, is waiting outside, his eyes darting from Julie to Ryan to me. “Mrs. O’Brien, I’m so sorry,” he says. “I tried to stop him from coming in, but the gate’s sensor recognized his car.” Julie gives him a short nod. “Don’t worry about it, Grant. I’ll fix that.” Without another word, she walks over to Ryan’s car, reaching up. She tugs at the sticker tag, struggling with it for a while before ripping it from the wi