It feels as though it takes me forever to reach the reception area, and twice as long to find my way back to the redhead who’s engrossed in small talk with a group of new arrivals.

As I wait for her to acknowledge my presence, I make out her name:

Marlene Elijah.

“Excuse me?”

She turns her head away from the group and for a moment, confusion crosses her face.

She has no idea who I am.

“We met ten minutes ago,” I say to refresh her memory. Her face remains blank. The woman’s clearly overworked. Either that, or her facial recognition abilities suck. “I think you guys made a mistake. I’m supposed to share my apartment with a girl, but there’s a guy in there.”

Her frown deepens as she regards me. I can almost see her brain trying to place me. “What’s your apartment number?”

“2B.”

“And you are?”

“Vicky Sullivan.”

Her manicured finger trails down the names on her list and begins to tap against one row at the bottom of the page. After a short pause, she glances up with a smile.

“Not a mistake, I’m afraid. Your roommate is Kaiden Wright.”

I stare at her, completely dumbfounded. She can’t have said what I think she just said. Someone made a mistake somewhere. After all, this is the LAA Center.

Hello?

The Love Addicts Anonymous Center.

“But…” I shake my head. “I’m supposed to be here to get help.”

For…

There, I can’t even say the words.

LOVE ADDICTION.

It sounds so ugly. Sickening. Like an infectious disease.

Marlene doesn’t look at me full of pity or wrath. She smiles kindly, as if my supposed condition is something she’s dealing with on a regular basis.

“I’m pleased to say that we’ve placed you in our newest therapy program.” At my horrified expression, she pats my upper arm. “At first it might seem inconvenient that you’ve been paired with a male, but don’t worry. We know what we’re doing. Kade is going to be your partner. You’ll make a great team.”

“But he is male,” I protest.

Doesn’t she get the magnitude of it all?

I can’t engage with a stranger in the kind of things Bruce and I should be experiencing, like living together and going to therapy.

This is just wrong.

“Correct.” She nods her head. Her glance sweeps to the waiting group behind her, and I realize I’m about to lose her. “You’re going to help each other. Isn’t that great?”

It’s immoral and wrong on so many levels, I can’t even begin to describe it. “Is that even allowed?”

“If you want to come out of this experience stronger and more independent, you need to triumph over your demons,” she says, her smile fading a little. “Living with him is going to be a test. And yes, I realize that it may seem somewhat unheard of, but this is our newest therapy plan which, without a single doubt, is going to be very successful.” She gives my hand a comforting squeeze. “Don’t worry. You will receive all the support you need.” She pauses for a second, as if unsure whether to throw in more information or not. Eventually, she leans forward, close enough to whisper so no one but me can hear her.

“Personally, I think it’s a bit counterproductive.” She smirks. “But I’m not the one who develops the therapy plans. It might help you to know that you two don’t suffer from the same kind of addiction.”

“Yeah?” The tension falls off a bit. “What is he here for?”

Drugs? Games? Sounds about right.

Maybe he’s one of those people who work too much.

I can deal with a workaholic.

“I’m not supposed to tell, but what the hell?” Marlene laughs. “You’re partners. You’ll find out soon enough, right?”

Now she’s really made me curious.

I nod my head, impatiently waiting for her big revelation.

When nothing comes I prompt, “What is it, Marlene?”

“Kade is our newest sex addict,” she says gently, as if he had an addiction to little, furry bunnies.

I stare at her, open-mouthed.

A sex addict?

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

I burst out in laughter.

A sex addiction makes so much sense. Why didn’t I think of that? After all, he wasn’t exactly stroking little bunnies in that bathroom. Besides, who in their right mind can’t control their urge to jerk off in the knowledge that someone could barge in any minute?

“Do you have a problem with that?” Marlene asks. Her smile is gone; her tone is hard, on edge. Maybe this was all a test…which I’ve just failed, and she’ll report back to the judge.

I might never see Bruce again.

“No.” I clear my throat. “Not at all. You can rest assured that I’ll do my best.”

“Good. You’ll find everything you need to know in your leaflet. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” With that, she turns her attention back to the group, dismissing me.

Heading back to my apartment, I barely notice the blonde bumping into me.

“Sorry.” I look up. It takes me a second or two to remember her name.

“They placed me in the wrong apartment,” Sylvie says.

“Me, too.”

Her features relax a little. “No way. Are you saying that—”

“That I’ve been paired with a guy? Yes.”

“Holy shit,” she mutters, then clasps a hand over her mouth. “Have you talked to someone? Are they really okay with this?”

I nod my head. “Apparently, yes.” At her mortified expression, I laugh. “But you haven’t heard the best part yet.”