Page 169

“Ten days.”

“I don’t want to waste any of them.”

“We won’t.”

“Promise?”

“I crossed an ocean.”

Her laugh broke through the tears. “And a whole day. You lost a Tuesday.”

I was quiet long enough that her smile slipped.

“Yeah,” I said. “That one cost me.”

“Hale...”

“I know.” I pulled her closer. “I’d still come.”

“Okay,” she said, and let me keep the choice as mine.

She settled against my chest.

“What do you want to do first?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“I’ve been doing things for four months.” Her arms tightened around me. “Just stay still.”

So I did.

49

SPICE CABINET

Yasmine: I’m back!

Annie: YASMINE VALENTINE LIVES.

Ava: Somebody check the timestamp. She finally remembered we exist.

Tabby: welcome back babe

Yasmine: Thanks. Missed y’all!

Ava: How was it?

Yasmine: The hardest thing I’ve done in my life.

Yasmine: But so good.

Annie: where you at

Yasmine: Airport.

Yasmine: Hale’s about to pick me up.