Page 76 of Dead Set on You
I blink my eyes open.
But I’m not looking up at the hospital room ceiling tiles. It’s Rafael.
He’s close enough I can see the sun reflected in his eyes. A flare of disappointment douses some of my excitement, but I check it because I’m onto something and I feel better than I’ve felt all morning.
“Are you okay?” he asks, hands tucked in pockets. He scans me in that disconcerting way of his.
I don’t look away. “Sorry I couldn’t stay.”
“I wouldn’t have even been able to come through the hospital doors.” There’s no sarcasm in his tone, and it might be more debilitating than the look on his face. Because he’s trying to make me feel better when I just left him to deal with my mess.
“Still, I don’t … I just … Thank you.” I hate being so completely at a loss. More than that, I don’t completely resent that he’s taking the lead. That I’m trusting him with this.
“No need to thank me, E. I haven’t even done anything,” Rafael says. I want to contradict him, but I have a sense I’ll lose. “Father V said to keep praying, and I say we keep trying other ways as well. Because we’re going to figure this out.” Rafael’s determined tone catches me off guard.
“You’re a really good liar,” I deadpan.
Rafael shrugs. “Father V’s sermons dissuade any sort of fibbing.”
I snort before I can catch myself. “I choked.”
“You, on the other hand,” he drawls, “are areallytalented liar.”
“Like I said, you have a lot to learn.”
“Ah—yes, mymentor.” Rafael grins, and I can’t help but smile at the memory of thePublicity Todayinterview where I said as much.
Rafael’s phone buzzes, and he digs into his pocket to silence it.Secrets, secrets, secrets,Pre-Coma Evie chants. I need her to stop.
“Is that Dana?” The question escapes my lips before I overthink it.
Rafael blinks. “Um. No.”
“Because you can take the call, especially if it’s work.”
“I know.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
We have a minute-long staring contest.He’s hiding something,Pre-Coma Evie nudges me, and I might never have another chance to get to the truth. If I’m ever going to ask him, it’s now. “How’s work?”
Rafael hesitates. “Fine.”
“Really? Because I haven’t seen you go to the office at all, and the other day? Your niece said you weren’t working.”Pre-Coma Evie jumps with glee.Go, Evie, go!And I push forward. “Are you hiding something? Because you can tell me if you got the promotion.”
Rafael doesn’t mask his surprise. “No! Is that what you think I’m hiding?”
His tone suggests I should probably find another answer, but I answer honestly. “Yes.”
Rafael sighs with frustration, then drags his hands through his hair. “I wasn’t promoted. In fact, I haven’t been to the office in almost two weeks.” He looks at me like he’s begging me toread the large print, Evie, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to be figuring out. Almost two weeks—
That’s …
“You haven’t been back since the accident?”
He swallows, his throat bobbing. “No.”
