Page 68 of Bone Year

Nella raises an eyebrow. “Didn’t look like hate to me.”

“Well, it is. We can barely be in the same room without wanting to kill each other.”

“Mhm.” She doesn’t look convinced. “So you’re single then?”

“No, actually.” I lean back in my chair. “I’m kind of dating an angel. I mean nothing has been defined officially…His name is Jace. We grew up together.”

Nella makes a face, scrunching up her nose. “An angel. Huh.”

“What’s that face for?”

“Nothing.” She picks at the stuffed fox’s ear. “Angels are intense. They feel things differently than the rest of us, if they feel things at all. It’s a lot to deal with.”

“Jace isn’t like that. He’s sweet.”

“They’re all sweet at first.” She shrugs. “My mom always says to never trust something that pretty. Too good to be true.”

I think about Jace. His soft smiles. The way he holds me like I might break. The way he looks at me sometimes like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.

“He’s not too good to be true,” I say quietly. “He’s...good.”

Nella studies me for a moment, then nods slowly. “Okay. I believe you.” She pauses. “But that vampire is definitely into you. Just saying.”

I roll my eyes and stand up, gathering my supplies. “I have to go check on my other patient, but if you need anything, press the panel. The bracelet will let me know.”

I hold up my wrist, showing her the metal plate with her name on it.

“I’ll come back before my shift ends. I promise.”

She looks at the bracelet then at me.

“Most people don’t come back,” she says quietly. “They say they will, but they don’t.”

“I’m not most people.”

The corner of her mouth twitches. “No, I’m starting to figure that out.”

I head for the door, pausing with my hand on the handle.

“Nella?”

“Yeah?”

“For the record, you’re going to fly again. I don’t care what the healers say or what the corruption does. We’re going to figure this out.”

She doesn’t say anything. But when I glance back, her eyes are shining.

I slip out into the corridor and close the door behind me. Time to head up to level seven.

The current lift is already waiting when I reach it, doors open. I step inside and reach for the panel then freeze.

Jace is leaning against the back wall, arms crossed, a disarming smile spreading across his face.

“Fancy meeting you here.”

“What are you doing on five?” I step closer, letting the doors slide shut behind me.

“Senna sent me to grab supplies from the surgical stock. Apparently floor eight is running low on sutures.” He pushes off the wall, moving toward me. “But I’ve got a few minutes.”