Page 8 of The Two Last Moments

“Somebody’s testy.” He laughs. “And it’s not me.”

“I’m not testy. Just a little tired. I’m not taking off yet. But Idohave my own responsibilities. And you’ve got yours.”

Matteo’s got a big personality, both funny and as loyal as any guy I know. He’s also never met a damsel in distress he didn’t want to rescue.

“Just saying, if you need any advice on being a real American hero who received a commendation from the mayor…”

Ugh, not withthatagain. I roll my eyes. “Then I’ll call Angela.”

“Go on,” Nina says. “Keep making yourself useful. But keep in mind, when I said you should find yourself a distraction, I didn’t mean itthisliterally.”

“Now you tell me.”

4

When I wake up again, Danny is sitting in a chair looking at his phone. So I take the opportunity to look at him.

While his hair is somewhere between brown and blond, the scruff on his chin is darker. He’s wearing a necklace on a black silk cord, and sometimes he touches the pendant, rolling it between his fingers. Like an absentminded habit. He purses his full lips.

Where do I know him from? Why can’t I remember?

He must feel me looking, because he glances up and smiles, tucking away his phone. “Feeling any better?”

“Some. I think. Do I know you?” I asked before, but I don’t think he answered.

His brow creases. “Honestly, I’m not sure. That’s why it’s confusing.”

“What is?”

“Why you’re so attached to me.”

I feel my face heat up. “Sorry.”

“I’m not complaining.” His phone buzzes with a call, and he glances at it before sticking it into his pocket with a pensive expression.

“You’re not going to get that?” I ask.

“It’s okay. I’ll handle it later. Right now, I’m here with you.”

I have no idea why—I guess we’ve established I know almost nothing at the moment—but my throat swells and tears suddenly burn in my eyes. I blink them away, hoping he doesn’t see. But something tells me he does. I feel like he seeseverything. Looks straight through me. I shouldn’t like that. I seem to be missing certain facts about myself, but I know I don’t like being scrutinized. Yet I don’t mind it from him.

I guess that’s fair, because I was just watchinghimlike a creeper. Which he noticed. And that’s after telling him he’s “nice to look at,” which I’m sure he knew already.

I claimed to be chill earlier, but I may have spoken too soon.

Nurse Julie comes in to check on me again. Asking about my pain levels, if I’ve remembered anything else. And once again, she makes an excuse when I ask her to take off my restraints.

As soon as she leaves, I pepper Danny with questions of my own. “Okay, what the hell is going on? What was this accident? Why am I tied down like I tried to bite someone’s face off?”

He just stares at me, lips pressed together.

“Ididn’t, right?”

He exhales and smiles. Danny smiles a lot, though he doesn’t always look happy. Hmm. That’s an observation I file away to consider more later.

“Not that, no,” he says. “You didn’t bite anyone.”

“Could you untie me, then? I won’t tell Nurse Julie it was you.”

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