Page 123 of Time to Bounce

“I don’t want to leave you behind,” I whispered.

She patted her chest. “You won’t leave me behind. You may not be able to see me, but I watch. I know all about you. I know about Quincy, Quaid, and Quinn. I know about Auden and Atlas. You and Garrett. Mom and Dad. The new nieces and nephews. I’m not alone. I’m right here.”

She patted her chest, and I couldn’t stop myself from patting my own.

“Choose,” she whispered.

It broke my heart.

But I chose. “I love you, Addie. I love you so much.”

“Say hi to Mom and Dad for me,” she smiled.

Then I was gone.

The pain was back.

And Athena wasn’t alone.

Imagine if spiders laughed like psychos when you found them.

—Text from Athena to Gable

ATHENA

I felt numb.

There was no other word for what I felt.

It felt like the life had been drained out of my soul, and I was sitting here, a broken shell of the woman I once was.

I didn’t know what to do.

What to say.

Was there anything even to say?

The Carters had tried to talk to me.

Hell, even Maven had tried.

But I didn’t have anything left in me to give, not even conversation.

I’d been sitting in the exact spot since I’d gotten into the waiting area, and my mind just blanked.

I didn’t know how much time had passed.

I didn’t know if it’d been overly long.

My bladder was full.

It’d obviously been a while.

But…

“Carter family?”

I was standing, my numb legs protesting the movement with each inch I stood.

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