Page 32 of Icy Heart, Empty Chest
He cocked his head slightly. “Tell me a good memory. Of us, as kids.”
I put my cup down and thought for a second.
“Remember the swimming regional championships in eighth grade? You were so nervous. Your coach put you in as a substitute and then your other team member got diarrhea. It was just you up there from your team. It wasn’t even one of your usual events, you just volunteered because you didn’t want them alone. As soon as you hit the water, you were off like a shot. Left the other three completely behind. Your mom was sitting next to me that day. Told me how proud she was of you.” I could still smell the heavy chlorine, see him pulling off his goggles to observe his first-place finish.
“I never knew that.”
“Totally true. And! And after you gave us both a very wet hug, you turned greener than your normal shade because it turns out, you too had gotten food poisoning from the same team dinner. Just delayed a few hours.”
He chuckled.
“You were the only one I knew who could set a new swimming record while having projectile diarrhea.” I smiled at the thought. “Maybe that’s why you swam faster.”
“I thought I’d have to go to the hospital because I was so dehydrated the next few days.”
“You were OK. I made sure you had soup.”
He turned to me seriously. “I remember the healing powers of your dad’s soup.”
I felt a pang in my chest at the mention but kept a smile on.
“Cor, after tonight, you tell me what happened with the benefit.”
My smile vanished.
“You want the truth?”
“Always.” Some fire had returned to his eyes.
“That one hurts. That day would have been my time machine moment.”
“That you would have gone someplace else or done something else?”
I nodded. I downed the rest of my lukewarm coffee.
“Be back in a minute.”
The burn of tears threatened my eyes as I moved to the bathroom as casually as I could. I changed into the black T-shirt and black legging combo and braided my hair, trying to refocus.
I had a job to do.
CHAPTER 8
Unsent email from Damien’s phone, junior year:
I’m not really sure why you’ve been distant the last few weeks but I really need to talk to you. At dinner when we were talking about colleges, my dad basically laid down my entire life to come. I was thinking maybe something like athletic training but he told me if I didn’t go into criminal justice, I’d get no funding from the family. Go get a degree, join the MF academy, make it through. I looked over at Mom blankly. She just avoided my eyes. I asked him what if I wanted to do something different and he reiterated that it was an unwise choice and I’d be out on my own with no resources. I point-blank asked him what would happen if I didn’t join the MF. He inferred heavily that he would cut me off from anyone else who supported my “radical” plan, especially you. Phone confiscation, post-sports lockdown at home to do homework. Internet to be used for homework and sports purposes only. My browser history would be checked regularly as would my email. Any passwords I had to them would have to be changed. Cor, I don’t know what to do. He doesn’t want me to talk to you at all. I told him I would do anything he asked, just not to separate me from my best friend. He hasn’t budged; keepscalling you horrible things. I can’t say a word against it or he gets angrier, saying he’d throw me out. Mom isn’t helpful, she just frets and tells me not to get him riled up again. I miss you. I can’t stand not talking to you. I want to stand up to him, fight back, but I’m scared. I wish I could talk to you.
Deleted from unsent inbox: 9:29pm.
CHAPTER 9
Let’s set the scene. If I had known that Damien would be hovering this close to me in the basement of the good doctor’s house, I would have worn more deodorant.
It was empty. Or mostly empty. There was a furnace with some cobwebs on it in the corner. Some open cardboard boxes with household supplies.
Damien bumped into my back again while peering around the room with his flashlight.
“Dae,” I hissed. “Back up a few steps?”
