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“That’sit?” I rubbed my hands on my knees, expelling nervous energy.
“More than I thought,” Theo said. “As for Trace … I’m sure he’ll also work out a deal.”
“Damn,” I muttered.
“We can do this,” Theo said, massaging my neck. “Whatever happens, I’ll keep you out of danger.”
“Now that I’ve honed my abilities toavoidingvillainous situations rather than running to them, I’m doing pretty good on that, too,” I said.
He smiled. “I do appreciate the foresight you had in creating your own account in the Cayman’s.”
I popped a grape into my mouth and savored the juice popping over my tongue. “The government didn’t deserveallmy winnings. Still, it’s a pittance compared to yours.”
Theo kept that ingenue grin on his face. “We’re comfortable.”
I used that moment to glance at his watch. “Shit,” I said and jumped up. “We’re going to be late.”
“I don’t think this place operates like the city you’re used to,” Theo called behind me, but I ignored him, pulled on a light sundress, finger-combed my hair, then grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the hut.
* * *
When we gotto the hospital, my pulse was noticeably pounding against my wrists. Theo rubbed at the sensitive spot underneath one of my palms, providing tickling reassurance.
“It’ll be fine,” he said.
“I’m not sure what the definition offineshould be anymore,” I said as we walked into the entrance, the tropical breeze lifting my hair and heating my neck. “Like, should it be hey, we’re alive, so we’re fine. Or hey, we can live out the rest of our lives under fake IDs, so we’re fine. Or hey, we can still—oh! Do you have the postcard I meant to mail? I can’t believe I forgot it—”
“I have it,” Theo said, rubbing my back. “I dropped it into the post box half a mile back. You must not have noticed. Your parents should get it in a few days.”
“Good.” I added, as we strode into air conditioning.
“And Verily’s. I got that one, too.”
I deflated, grabbed his hand. “Thank you.”
He kissed the top of my head in answer.
We got to the waiting room, gave my—new—name, and much to my chagrin, were seen immediately.
When I was shown into an examination room, Theo came with me. It was painted pale green with a pot of local flowers on a shelf below a nondescript abstract painting of different colored brush strokes. It was a room meant to be as calming as a doctor could make it, considering why most people came to a doctor in the first place. I focused on the white roses peppered throughout the vase, taking it as further motivation to calm down. Those were Cassie’s favorite blooms. If she was here, then I’d be okay.
I was asked to get into a hospital gown, which Theo had to help me do since my fingers were shaking too much.
“I hate hospitals,” I muttered pointlessly.
Theo lifted my chin as I bent down to pull off my shoes and kissed me. “It’ll be over soon.”
“Yeah.”
I slid onto the table, legs dangling. In moments, the doctor came through.
“Hello,” he said while flipping through a clipboard. “I’m Dr. Gonzales. I’m told you’d like an IUD inserted today?”
I nodded. When he didn’t look up, I cleared my throat and said, “Yes.”
He set the clipboard near the sink and went to wash his hands. “We have to do a urine sample first. To rule out pregnancy.”
“Yes, I gave it to the nurse already,” I said. “It’s just been difficult being on time with my birth control pills, you know? I’d rather have a better solution. Th—my husband and I, Darren, move around a lot, so this seems the best thing to do for ourselves.”
