Page 116 of Time to Bounce

“I was at the hospital for a routine test,” I said. “I…” I stopped. “My birth mother didn’t die of that inherited blood disease, did she?”

My mother shook her head no.

It was at that point that I was done.

There would be no more talking to her.

Done.

D. O. N. E.

“Hope you have a good rest of your life, Mother,” I snarled. “Because I’m done.”

With that parting comment, I fled, heading to my car.

I wasn’t aware of where I’d driven until I pulled up to the police station.

I wandered to the side entrance and used my employee code to get in the back door.

I kept walking until I got to the area where Germaine, Garnett, Quinn, and Quaid had offices.

Maybe one of them would know where Gable was.

Or maybe I could just rest in one of their offices until Gable was found.

I don’t know why I didn’t just call him.

My brain wasn’t working all that great as all the thoughts, implications, and facts were whirling around up there.

But none of the Carters were there.

None of them.

I stopped at the desk where a receptionist should be and frowned.

“Athena?”

I turned to see none other than Callena standing there, looking worried.

“Yeah?”

“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you at the hospital?” she asked.

“Hospital?” I questioned. “Why would I be there?”

Her frown deepened. “You don’t know.”

“Don’t know what?” I asked.

She caught my hand and started tugging me toward the exit. “Come on. Let’s get you to the hospital.”

I don’t know why I followed her.

But I’ll never be more glad that I did.

Sorry for being a hater. I want to be a lover, but I hate everyone.

—Gable’s secret thoughts

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