Page 56 of Ice Mechanic

“No. He’s still not touching his food. We had to IV him earlier this week.”

I frown in concern. “Is his condition getting worse?”

“That’s the strange thing. He’s had several moments of clarity this week. He was even able to recognize one of his old friends from a photo.”

My pulse quickens. “Do you think…” I lick my lips, “that maybe he’d be able to remember me?”

“He might, but we always caution family members to prepare themselves. There’s no guarantee that he will.”

I’d expected that answer but my heart sinks anyway.

“However, we’re doing everything we can to improve his appetite. The chef makes him a special meal every day to entice him. We’re taking the best care of your father.”

Which is why you should pay what you owe.

But that last part echoes only in the silence of my guilty conscience.

Dad always taught us to pay our debts. Since opening the garage, things have been really difficult. It’s the first time in my life I’ve ever been this behind on my responsibilities.

“This way, April.” The nurse opens the door to the admin office and gestures for me to walk in.

Heart in my throat, I step past her. I need to assure the admin that I’m doing everything I can to get the money.Everything.Pretending to date Chance and being thrust into the spotlight was forthisreason.

So far, dating Chance has gotten my social media tons of likes, but it hasn’t produced any new customers for the business. Even so, I’ll work harder. I have to.

I’m staking mylifeon this fake relationship.

There’s no other option than for it to work.

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

CHANCE

Three things keepme from running off the stage to talk to April.

Derek will kill me if I ruin this photo op.

The nursing home residents seem extremely excited about these free boxers.

And lastly, I got years of discipline and self-control as an athlete.

However, staying on the stage doesn’t mean I’m focusing on taking pictures. I’m all-in, one hundred percent,lockedon April.

When she excitedly greets an elderly man and smiles up at him like he means the world to her, I take notice.

Is that her dad?

He and April do kind of look alike.

“Alright, that’s the last of them,” Derek says, striding over to me and offering me coffee. “You can take a short break. We’re going to shoot some b-roll for…”

I race off the stage so fast I smell the soles of my sneakers burning. My head whips back and forth. Earlier, April was calledaway by a nurse. She took this hallway, but I don’t see her anywhere. Did she go into one of the rooms?

“Excuse me.” I pull aside a nurse in the hallway.

She looks up with an astonished smile. “Me?”

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