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“How are you doing, Kota? Talk to me.”
“I don’t know what’s going on.”
That makes two of us.
“You’ve been shot but you’re gonna be okay. Do you hear me? You’re gonna be okay.”
While elevating her shoulder to reduce blood flow to the gunshot wound, I scan her face for any signs she’s dying. Is she dying? Would I even be able to tell?
“Um. Second place. You said second place.” I can’t believe she still thinks that. “That’s not why I call you Silver.” I sniffle but it’s useless. Both eyes and my nose are busted-ass faucets at this point. My girlfriend might be dying. “I call you Silver because you’re the silver lining out of this entire fucked-up situation.”
“Oh.”
Oh. That’s all she has to say?
Maybe that’s all she can say.
Should I give her mouth-to-mouth? She’s still breathing, so…I guess not?
Powerless. Again. That’s all I fucking am—so goddamn powerless.
I weep openly. I’d give anything to switch places with her right now.
Why did she take the bullet meant for me? I’m no good. Not for her, not for anyone. My dad and I joined her family based off a lie, a scam. We weren’t here for love. We were here to rob the Rhodeses blind. Since April, we’ve managed to get over a hundred thousand dollars out of Sera, some with her consent, most without.
Falling for Kota was not part of the plan. Making nice with her to acquire even more of the Rhodeses’ fortune was. I failed at that. Epically. Not only did I fall for her, I chose her over money, I chose her over my dad, and in the end, I chose her over myself.
I never expected she’d choose my life over hers, especially when we weren’t technically together.
“I love you, Silver,” I tell her while I can. “Jesus, I love you so much. If I could go back, I would’ve made you mine that first day in the kitchen.”
Gazing up at me, red bubbles in the corner of her mouth, she rasps, “You did.”
Now I’m mad.
“You stupid fucking girl. You stupid fucking girl. That bullet was for me. It was mine.” Just like her—mine.
Despite the tears dripping on her face, she smiles, a bloody smile that does nothing to placate me. If anything, it pisses me off more. How can she be smiling while she’s dying? It should be me. It was supposed to be me!
“Kota, you better fucking fight. Fight for me. Please,” I beg.
Her smile attempts to grow. “So you were there.”
“Where?”
“The cemetery.”
“Cemetery? What cemetery?” Is she hallucinating? Seeing the future? What the fuck!
Eyes fluttering to a close, she doesn’t answer.
“Kota?” I shake her. “Open your eyes, Silver. Let me see those dusty blues.”
She doesn’t obey. As usual, she doesn’t fucking obey.
“Kota!”
“Meet me at the bottom.”
