“Are you going to ask me to change?”
“Of course not!”
“Are you going to ask me to quit my job?”
“Absolutely never, it’s a part of who you are.”
“Right, so are you going to stick around and make a life with me, knowing my job is risky and I put my life in danger when the situation calls for it? When I’m trying to save fucking children?” My voice escalates, and she jumps back, startled by my outburst.
“Maybe we should talk about this later, when you’re calmer.”
“No, tell me now, Presley. Are you going to stick around or let your fears consume you?”
She sags her shoulders in defeat and whispers, “I don’t think I can handle this life.”
I open my mouth to argue, but my parents come in with smiles on their faces and take-out bags in their hands. They both take in the scene and stop dead.
“What’s going on?” Dad moves to me.
I tamper down my emotions and shuffle toward Presley. “Winnie called, hysterical. She’s upset that no one will tell her what’s going on, and she made Presley cry. I’m insisting Presley go home and be there when they tell her the truth. She’s likely to have a ton of questions.”
“Poor baby,” my mom sympathizes, oblivious to what’s really happening. “She needs you, Presley. The timing is awful, but that little girl has been through so much lately.”
My dad sees the whole picture clearly and runs his hand down his face. “Let’s get Finn back in bed, and I’ll help get you a cab back to the hotel. I bet there’s a flight out tonight.”
“I’ve already checked. She’s on the nine o’clock.”
Her head swings to me with a look of despair, then her eyes close and shame washes over her face. It dawns on her I heard the conversation this morning, and this was my last ditch effort to get through to her.
She gathers her composure and walks to me, taking her bag and kissing me softly. “I love you, Finn, and I’m sorry,” she whispers and turns to my parents to tell them goodbye.
Mom assures her that she’ll keep her updated on my release and homecoming. Dad stays quiet, staring at me with sadness.
When he walks her out, I stumble back to bed and notice blood seeping through my bandage. Mom asks if I need some pain medicine, and I agree, knowing the pain isn’t from the wound but from the breaking of my heart.
“Knock, knock! I have another delivery!” Reese sings out, cracking my bedroom door and peeking in.
“I’m asleep.” I change the channels mindlessly on the television and try to ignore her.
“I’d believe that if you actually ever slept.” She sits on the bed and hands me a box of chocolates with a handmade card. My throat closes seeing Winnie’s lopsided hearts and flowers all over the construction paper.
“Thanks,” I mumble and stack it on my nightstand next to the others.
“You’ve been home two weeks, Finn. Please, come out of this room.”
“Why?”
“Because Tripp misses you, and he’s worried. Every one of your friends has come by, worried when you’re too tired to see them.”
“I am tired.”
“Bullshit.” She climbs into my bed and lays her head on the pillow Presley used. I almost yell at her to move, but figure it’s worthles
s. The sheets need to be washed soon anyway.
“She’s crushed. I’m her best friend, and she’s never been this way before. She’s lost, Finn. She needs you to whip her back into shape.”
“Not my job. She needs to find her balance in a life she can accept. My world gives her nightmares and causes uncertainty.”