Page 34 of One Breath After Another

Mrs. Tippens’ gaze darted to Penny before moving right back to Naz. “My point is only that maybe this isn’t the best place for her because it’s become apparent we don’t have the system in place for someone with Penny’s needs. There are other places I could suggest that are better equipped to handle her delicate situation. Or a program, maybe, I—”

“What, like a ward?” Penny asked suddenly, the anger ringing out in every word. She glanced over at Naz, her brow pinched when she demanded, “Does she mean like a place they put me in overseas? Another hospital or—”

“That’s not going to happen,” Naz told her.

His tone was firm.

Other than Roz, only Naz or the social worker—if her guardians weren’t doing their part in caring for her—could check her into another mental institution. She had to trust when he said it wasn’t on the table, but a part of her still didn’t believe it.

Penny still couldn’t help the heaviness settling in her chest or the ache in her heart. That vicious swell of anxiety threatened to drown her under the rush of waves crashing into her one after the other with no end in sight. The way her mood could go from bleak to terrifying in the span of seconds was sometimes disconcerting.

“I don’t wanna go back—”

“Penny,” Naz murmured, his hand cutting between them like he was drawing an invisible line there, “it’s not happening. It’s not.”

Right, right.

So, why didn’t her brain hear that, too?

Then, to the principal, Naz lost his friendly, willing-to-please facade when he said, “She’s not moving out of this school. I’ve already paid for her year—her graduation isn’t that far away. Her grades are passable. She’s kept up with online classes and the minimum classwork needed to stay above board. And what, because she won’t engage with people the way you think is acceptable, you’re willing to push her out altogether? Give me a fucking break.”

“Excuse me, just who do you think—”

“You know exactly who I am,” Naz muttered, standing from his chair and stretching to his full height. Penny quickly moved to follow. “What do you want—more money? I heard they’re looking to add to the gym facilities and upgrade current equipment. Send me a memo. A check will follow. In the meantime, make a little more space for Penny while she finishes her year here and without bullshit like this that wastes my time. She’s already been victimized enough outside of these walls. Let’s not add to it while we get her to graduation day.”

The principal gaped, silent.

Naz smiled again. “Anything else?”

“I ...”

“I’ll take that as a no. Penny, let’s go.”

“Okay,” she whispered, quickly scrambling around the chairs to follow after Naz. On their way out of the office, Naz snatched the phone from Penny’s hand without regard to her question of, “What are you doing?”

He plugged in a number, then handed it back saying, “If they give you any shit here after today, and you need somebody to get here fast, but Roz and I aren’t available, call Luca. That’s his number. He’ll drop everything and be here, okay?”

Penny quieted, glancing down at the new contact staring back at her. Naz didn’t miss it.

“You seemed okay with him—sorry, I didn’t mean to assume. Are you not?”

The empty corridor of the school leading away from the office echoed with their footsteps. She had to ask herself that same question while a warmth bloomed in her chest at the idea of having Luca available to her with nothing more than a phone call. It was almost enough to make her smile.

And that was crazy.

Dumb, even.

It certainly didn’t help that the guy made her tongue-tied just by being near, and that she didn’t even know why. Was she okay with it?

Confused more than anything.

Eventually, Penny muttered, “Yeah, it’s okay.”

Sort of.

“And thank you,” she added.

Naz frowned. “For what?”