Page 97 of Always

“This isn’t your fault, Skye.”

“She asked me to have dinner with her and Garrett tonight. I said no, because you and I had plans. I knew we were going to… And I was looking forward to it. I wanted it so badly.”

“Why didn’t you call me? I would have understood.”

“I know. But I didn’t want to break our date. I wanted… Damn! How selfish am I?”

“It’s not selfish to refuse to break a previous commitment, Skye. You and I both know that. Tessa is a grown-up. She’s responsible for her own actions.”

We’ve already been through this. She’s just distraught, and for good reason.

But I’m right.

She knows I’m right.

She stays silent as we walk back to the hospital.

“Here you go.” I hand the tray with the coffees, cream, and sugar to Dan Logan.

Then I sit next to Skye and hold her hand.

I don’t ask her to talk.

I’m able to go through some emails on my phone, but mostly I worry.

I worry about Tessa.

And about Skye.

Because if anything happens to Tessa?

Skye’s heart will be broken.

…

A few hours later, a young doctor comes to the waiting room and approaches the Logans. “I’m Dr. Mary Hedstrom. I have good news. Tessa is going to be fine.”

Skye slumps against me, and a concrete block lifts from my shoulders.

Thank God.

“Could I speak to you two in private?” Dr. Hedstrom says to the Logans.

“It’s okay,” Mr. Logan replies. “Skye is Tessa’s best friend, and Mr. Black is Skye’s…gentleman friend. They’ve both been very helpful. You may speak freely.”

“All right. Tessa had an allergic reaction based on an interaction of two different substances that she ingested.”

I keep my face stoic. This is no surprise to me.

“What substances?” Mr. Logan asks.

“Alcohol and ketamine.”

I lift my eyebrows. “Ketamine?” Not what I expected, but already my mind is racing about Garrett Ramirez.

“What’s ketamine?” Mrs. Logan asks.

“Technically it’s an anesthetic,” Dr. Hedstrom says, “but it’s also used sometimes to treat pain or depression.”

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