Page 110 of Instant Karma

His eyebrows lift and he gestures at the jar. “How did we do?”

“Oh! Uh…” I shrug helplessly. “I’d only just gotten everything sorted. I didn’t have time to count yet.”

“Oh.” He still looks skeptical, even as he nods. “I guess we’ll both be surprised, then?” A moment of awkward silence passes between us, before Quint’s face starts to clear. “Regardless of how much it is, I know everyone is really happy with how the cleanup went. Mom said she’s even had a few people call about volunteer opportunities.”

“Really? That’s great.”

“Yeah.” He presses his lips together and I can tell he wants to say something, but I’m still too agitated to guess what it is. Too freaked out that he’s about to accuse me of stealing. Which… I didn’t do. Which… it wasn’t.

Was it?

No.No.I’m not a thief. Thieves are bad people. I am not a bad person.

I clear my throat and intercept whatever it is he’s wanting to say. “What are you doing here?” Then, realizing that’s a guilty-sounding question, I amend, “I didn’t think you were on the schedule today.”

“I’m not.” He leans against the doorjamb. “Has anyone told you yet? About Lennon?”

“Oh! Yes. The blindness.”

He nods and I can tell he’s waiting to see how I’m doing. To see if I’m devastated at this news. But when I don’t break down in sobs, he continues. “And they’re going to try introducing him and Luna.”

“That! Yes. Right. Of course you came for that.”

He chuckles. His look is no longer accusatory, and so my thumping pulse is gradually returning to normal. “That’s actually why I was looking for you. They’re getting ready to move Lennon.”

“Oh, great! Let’s go!”

I start to brush past him, eager to get out of this office. But I’m only two steps into the break room when Quint catches my arm.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

I look back, dread filling me. “Sure. Of course.”

“How, um…” His hand falls away and hangs at his side for a second. Then he scratches behind his neck. “After Shauna counts up the donations, how would you like us to let you know? I can call you… or send a text? Or email?”

I stare at him. “Um. I mean, tomorrow’s Tuesday. So… I’ll be here. You can just… tell me?”

“Right, except. I counted, and… today is your sixteenth day volunteering. Which, according to our original agreement, means that today is your last day.”

I lean back, startled. My mouth forms a surprised O, but no sound comes out.

Freedom, I think. I can have the rest of my summer to do whatever I want.

Why is it that I feel no joy whatsoever at the thought?

“And, in case you aren’t sure, I’ll definitely still help with the revised report. For Mr. Chavez. You held up your end of the deal, so I’ll—”

“I’m not leaving.”

Quint goes still. “Yeah?”

“I want to stay. I mean—Lennon needs me.” I gesture in some vague direction toward the first floor. “And I still have so many more ideas for things we can do to raise more money and awareness. We’re just getting started. Aren’t we?”

His hesitation splits into a smile. “Yeah. We are. I just didn’t know… I wasn’t sure how you felt.”

“Well. That’s how I feel.” I smack him on the shoulder in a way that might be considered flirtatious. “Come on, Quint. You know me. You know I can’t leave a job half finished.”

His perfect teeth flash in a perfect grin. “I was sort of counting on it.”

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