ast. "Xandra-you never

but I snatched the divo

stabbed back: "Like hiding her three-mon

, flicking to Yara.

I'd leave?" I cut in,

tears erupted, a per

tting mom find out... I never

e a dying flowe

her into his arms,

ame yourse

another second-turni

me: "Xandra,why ar

end t

rvants: "Yara can't touch cold water. Keep the soup ang

cy manuals, tucking Yara' needs into every crevice of

y wrist tighte

ld-you know I

s phone

oured through

sto

ace dr

here," he said, alr

downpour, the car peeling aw

laughter building in my thro

s vanished. I laughed into the storm-so close, Caleb. A minute more,

my umbrella

civil affairs bureau,

across the counter, my voic

on my soaked form: "One-

t, the storm

sky, and something

t ends-sun aft

, the living

ed through the walls: "The

bedtime storie

he same lilt he'd used f

into bed, t

My croak

loated through: "I hope

e answe

voice, weaving dreams for a f

I smiled into the pillow-l

igned my exit

ss, but my hand spasmed-the

pick up shards, da

palm, but the laughter

when I had fever, he accompanied me in the bed

ain, his palm on my foreh

told me you're weak?" he

a forc

leather jacket, but my smile was a

Yara waddled over, hand on

sliced: "You'

tened on the helmet r

exhaust fumes here...

ed on m

ed: "Fine, but

her into the sidecar like a porcela

ght. Mind th

ed the Ducati-skills

im yelling over the engine,

justing her passenger harness

n his grip, until his phone r

ile turned feral: "Mrs. Huxle

tire, diamond studs glinting on

erve, her sidecar

kes fis

ocked, sending me skiddi

go limp, "falling"

YA

r echoed of

halt, never glancing back as my b

am was swallowed by th

to the medic tent, her he

burst, gasoline his

rinding-yet the rip in my chest felt like

oice soothing her in the distance, just like he

er look