Page 96 of Waiting Game

Me: I understand.

KillerCatQueen7: Do you?

KillerCatQueen7: I guess I’m still being selfish.

Me: No. I don’t think so. I get it. And I’m sorry. He forgot you when he never had before.

KillerCatQueen7: You don’t have to be sorry. It was a long time ago.

Me: What happened to your mom?

KillerCatQueen7: She was mugged but she wouldn’t let go of her purse so the guy pistol-whipped her. She went down and cracked her head on the curb.

KillerCatQueen7: Just like that, I was an orphan because Dad checked out.

KillerCatQueen7: I don’t know what I’d have done without my uncle.

My heart turns to ice at her text.

Earlier this year, Gracie was mugged.

Fuck, that that could have been her makes my skin crawl.

We could have lost her—just like that.

And hell, Liam’s not as fragile as he used to be, but I know how much he loves her. What wouldhehave done if we’d lost Gracie?

Feeling sick to my stomach, I hurl the half-eaten orange at the trash can.

As it’s swallowed up by Oscar the Grouch, I turn my attention back to the text exchange and type out:

Me: I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for you.

Me: How old were you?

KillerCatQueen7: I was pretty young and hella angry at the world for a long time afterward.

Me: My co-worker… they have a baby together.

KillerCatQueen7: Ah, Jesus. That’s terrible.

Me: It really is.

Me: Thank you, queen.

KillerCatQueen7: Hehe. Queen. I like that.

KillerCatQueen7: Anyway, what are you thanking me for lol?

Me: You didn’t have to share that with me.

Me: So you know, if you ever need me, I’m always at the end of a message.

KillerCatQueen7: That means a lot.

Me: Want me to tell you a deep, dark secret too?

KillerCatQueen7: It WOULD equal the balance.

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