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“No, there’s a video. It’s all over.” He brandished his phone. “That was frickin’awesome,the way you all—”
“No video.” I put up my hand to block the view. “Don’t want to see, don’t want to know.”
Patrick moved between us like he was my bodyguard and shot the guy a freezing look.
“Oh my gosh, Patrick! Hi!” A girl’s voice rang through the waiting room. We both turned at the same time.
She was sitting behind us, taking earbuds out of her ears. Curly blond hair spilled from under a crocheted hat, and big green eyes beamed up at Patrick. A few freckles spattered her cheeks.
“Hey, Jess. How are you?” Patrick’s voice was gentler than I’d ever heard it. His face, too, like he was softening it on purpose. I watched, fascinated. His smile was friendly, but his hand tightened on my waist.
“I’m good!” she exclaimed. Even with her red nose and hoarse voice, she was adorable. “I mean, I’m sick, obviously, I’m here, but everything’s going well.” She started to get up. “I’d give you a hug, but I don’t want you to catch anything. I’ve missed those, though. You give the best hugs. Doesn’t he?” she added to me, like we were old friends.
A hug,she’d said.The best hugs.Clearly, I was delirious.
“It’s okay, Jess,” Patrick said reassuringly. God, he sounded sonice. “You don’t have to get up.”
“How areyou?I’ve barely seen you since you got back from Rome. Senior year’s flying by.”
“It sure is.”
“How are Nick and Eddie?”
“They’re themselves.” Patrick smiled at her. He gripped my waist.
Jess laughed. Everything about her broadcastedcute,down to the way she wrinkled her nose at us. “Oh my God, Nick must be getting ready to graduate from high school. I can’t believe it! Tell them hi for me. Did you get that internship you wanted?”
“Yep. And you?”
“Everything’s great. I have a job lined up at a newspaper after graduation.” She reached up to squeeze Patrick’s hand. The move wasn’t flirty; she seemed like the kind of girl who was touchy and huggy with everyone. “We have so much to talk about! Why haven’t I seen you around? We should get coffee.”
“Of course. We’ll catch up soon. I need to get Christina here taken care of.”
“I’m so sorry.” She blinked at me, mortified. “You look really under the weather. I’m Jess. It’s nice to meet you, even like this.”
That name sounded familiar.
A screen flashed in front of my eyes — the online edition of our school paperThe Lighthouse.Patrick is spending his junior year in Italy, where he’ll study economics at the University of Rome.Stone buildings wavered in my vision, and gorgeous marble statues frolicked around a fountain.
I was hallucinating. I’d spent too much time online staring at pictures of Rome, trying to put the pieces together. I clutched Patrick’s arm.
“Jess?” I blurted. “As in Jess Janicek?”
“That’s me.” Her expression changed, puzzled. Patrick’s eyes bored into me from the side. “Do we know each other?”
“No. No, I just, uh… I’ve seen your articles inThe Lighthouse. I’m a really big fan. Nice to meet you too,” I began, and dissolved into a fit of coughing in a fancy gray sweater sleeve.
I swayed on my feet. Patrick grabbed me.
“Time to sit down, Christina.” His deep voice filled my head. “Nice and easy, take it slow—”
A nurse came briskly into the waiting room. “Jessica Janicek?”
“She can go first.” Jess waved urgently at me as I tottered. “I think she needs it more.”
The nurse did a once-over, nodded, and motioned to me to follow her.
“It’s okay,” I began, but Patrick interrupted.
