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“I don’t like it.” His voice shakes, tears welling in his eyes.

The video ends, and a text comes through a moment later.

Simon

Cast is off. He survived.

Arm looks gross.

SIMON.

What? It does.

Don’t tell HIM that.

He told me first.

Another picture. Theo holding his freed arm out

I laugh and turn the phone to Jamie so that she can see.

Jamie leans toward my screen. “Cast finally off?”

“Yep.”

“Everything good?”

“So far. They’re doing X-rays now.”

Tell him I love him.

He says he loves you more and wants McDonald’s.

Of course he does.

Doctor said if the xray looks good he’s cleared. No rough play for a little while.

No playground?

I’m not telling him. You tell him.

Coward.

I set my phone down and finally look at Jamie properly.

She’s staring at me. “You never texted me back.”

My stomach sinks. “I’m sorry.”

She waves it off. “I’m not mad.”

“No, I really am. Last week was—” I stop. The classroom clock ticks too loudly. “A lot.”

Her face changes. “Simon?”

“Kind of.”

“Veronica?”