Page 58 of A Ticking Time Boss

Wide-open spaces. It had been so beautiful.

“I prefer to perform my comedy in private,” Carter says. “Don’t worry. I’ll always save you a front-row seat.”

I shake my head. “We need to go to the canyon.”

“The… canyon?”

We’re moving. An elevator, I think, and then a lobby. His arm is strong around me. “This way,” he says. “Now what’s this about a canyon?”

“I don’t have one,” I say, and the thought makes me sad. They are so far away. “It’s been forever since I saw the red earth. The desert wind.”

“Okay, you hippy. If you really want to visit a canyon we can go to one.”

I shake my head. “They’re all disappearing.”

“They are? Where are they going? Come on, this is my car. Let’s get in.”

I duck my head and settle in the leather backseat of his car. The smell feels sharp in my nostrils. I lean back against the seat and close my eyes.

Wow, I’m tired. Exhausted. Can’t feel my mouth either.

“Miss Ford’s apartment,” Carter says. Then he says my address.

“Got it,” a voice says from the front seat.

I crack my eyes open. “How do you know that place?” I ask him.

Carter chuckles. “That’s where you live.”

“I know that. How do you?”

“I’ve dropped you off there before. I’ve also picked you up from there, last week. Remember? When we went out and ate pizza?”

Pizza… pizza… delicious cheese. “I want pizza.”

“You’ll have to wait for a bit, kid. Can’t eat for a while.”

I lean back against the seat. “Why? And why does my mouth feel weird? Does it look weird? I feel like I’ve lost it.” But when I reach up to touch the cottony area, something closes around my wrist. A warm hand.

“Don’t,” Carter says. “You shouldn’t touch it.”

“But I’ve lost my mouth.”

“No, you haven’t. It’s still there. I can see it.”

“You might be lying.”

“Would I lie to you?” he asks. “I’ve been more honest with you than I have with anyone for years.”

It takes me a few seconds to process the words. Honesty. Okay. If he says I still have a mouth, I probably do. So I twist my hand over and grab a hold of his instead. “Fine,” I say.

“Great,” he murmurs, and our intertwined fingers drift to my lap. I lean my head back and close my eyes. Nothing feels real, nothing feels tangible, except the seat beneath me and the tight grip around my hand. For a long moment I just let myself drift.

But maybe it’s more than just a long moment.

“Kid. We’re here. Can you get out of the car for me?”

I blink my eyes open. It’s bright again. Why is it so bright? “Yes.”

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