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He nodded. “Great.”
I stretched in my makeshift bed as she proceeded to check his vitals and they exchanged more unveiled hostilities. My back ached. I should be too young for that kind of pain, right? I was twenty-four. I blinked when I realized that made Michael forty-five. He got better looking every year that I knew him. My sisters both married guys twenty years or more older than them. Did we have a thing for older guys or what?
Not that I had athingfor Michael.
Maybe I could convince myself if I repeated it in my head enough times. I walked into his bathroom and splashed water on my face. I needed to find a toothbrush soon. A hairbrush wouldn’t hurt, either. I’d kill for a shower, but Michael didn’t want me to leave for a hotel, despite him suggesting one the first night. Clearly, I wouldn’t be able to shower until we left for his home…wherever that was.
When I walked back into the room, his IV was out, replaced with a big bandage wrapped around his arm. As I watched, he tugged a t-shirt over his head, showing off his very defined abs.
I swallowed and forced my gaze away from him. “What’s happening?”
“They’re going to let me take my drugs by mouth, so I’ve managed to convince them to let us go tonight.”
How long had I been in the bathroom? “I think I missed something.”
“They wouldn’t let me go if they didn’t think I’d be okay or that I could handle it. The doctor came by the room. He and I know each other, so it’s fine. I’m not an idiot, and I have no intention of dying. I’ll need to do some PT, but I have pretty good range of motion already.”
This is insane. I couldn’t find my voice for a second. “That’s great, Michael. But, fuck, I mean, when Hope was similarly shot,we spent a week here. I might be crazy, but I seem to remember you fighting off a raging fever just last night.”
He looked over his shoulder before he popped a pill into his mouth and swallowed without water. “I pay a lot of money to keep the doors open on this hospital that doesn’t exist, so I know exceptions can be made. I have doctors at home who will continue my treatment, and it’s not my first rodeo. I told you I’ve been shot before. This one was easy.”
My lips thinned, and I shook my head.There he is. The Michael who was hard to know. The one with a big giant shield against the world to ensure nothing—not even bullets—could hurt him. I supposed I could argue, but I wasn’t likely to win, and I knew better than to beat my head against the wall he’d just put up.
“Okay. Well, I hope you’re being smart, because it was really fucking terrifying to see you looking like you were about to die when the plane landed.”
He blinked rapidly. “I don’t remember that.”
“How nice for you! I’m not likely to forget it.” I shook my head. “Can I do anything to help you right now?”
“No.” He cleared his throat. “Let’s go.”
Life is so strange. That was all I could think as I followed him down the hall toward whatever vehicle would take us to his home, wherever it was.
How did I end up here?
Eight Years Earlier…
I hated parties. I stared at myself in the mirror before blowing out a breath and looking down at the book on my vanitytop. I’d really love to sit home and readFear and Anxietyby Kierkegaard. I was almost finished with it, and I had a lot of questions I planned to ask my teacher the next day when I went to school. In fact, I’d much rather go to school than be dragged to a party. My teacher hadn’t assigned the book, as it was way beyond what most sophomores read in high school. At least that’s what Ms. Jones had said when she handed it to me. Ms. Jones actually seemed to care that I was smart.
No one else seemed to notice lately.
“You know, there are child labor laws,” I spat over my shoulder to Layla and Hope. Neither one of them acknowledged my statement. They often ignored me when what I said contradicted what they wanted. Layla stared out the window. Did she like living in New York City? I’d always thought it was beautiful, but I didn’t get the feeling that Layla did. Hope stared at herself in the mirror in a similar pose to my own. We were surrounded by mirrors in this room, making an infinite loop of redheads.
Hope finally met my gaze in her mirror and answered me. “That would imply we’re getting paid.”
My lips thinned, and I gazed into my own eyes.That’s the thing, isn’t it?I had to go to parties with my sisters to pose for photos. I would meet the right people and help my father promote the image he and some guy named Zeke created for their company. I scowled at my reflection because I wanted to be in the office with them. I could really help the company, if they would just give me a chance. I studied the market every day, and it just made sense to me. I knew my brains could be useful…
How was my best use to everyone just smiling in photos with Layla and Hope?
I could point out that I shouldn’t be doing it at all.We were sixteen. Shouldn’t we only be thinking about school and extracurriculars, like our peers?
Maybe not, since we never stayed at a school for more than a year or two. What did it matter what I did, if I’d never have a chance to live a normal life?
“I don’t like the way the flash makes my eyes feel.” I shook my head. “I see spots after a while.”
Layla finally turned around. “I don’t like it either, but what choice do we have?”
I slumped down in my seat, my reflection revealing my defeated spirit beautifully. “None. No choices whatsoever.”
