Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MAYA

“ W hat do you think I should do?” I ask Riley across the living room table.

She blows on her hot cocoa with Luna curled up next to her. The envelope, with the bills visible, sits on the table like it’s trying to tempt us.

“I should give it back, right?” I go on.

Riley puts her drink down. “It’s a lot of cash just to give away. Did he say why he did it?”

This is Riley’s last day here. Soon, she’ll be heading back to college.

“I think he wants to do the right thing before I forget about him.”

“Forget?”

“He thinks I’m going to,” I explain. “Or he wants me to, but I don’t think I can. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to. It’s silly. It’s only been a few kisses and days, but it feels,” I pause, remembering what Tristan said, “different. With him, it was like I was becoming somebody new.”

“Maybe you should call him.”

“Like a clingy weirdo? He’s already made it clear he wants nothing to do with me.”

Also, I think, but don’t add, “ What about the Mob ?” What if they hurt Mom?

Suddenly, Mom’s emergency alarm starts going off. I jump to my feet, Loki barking at my heels as I rush through the house and almost trip on the corner of a rug. I catch myself on the doorframe, staring as Mom half sits up, beads of sweat glistening all over her.

She coughs, making a rattly noise, her eyes staring from her pained expression as if they’re the only living things left.

“Call an ambulance!” I yell, rushing over to Mom.

“On it!” Riley yells back.

“Mom, it’s okay. Mom.”

She coughs again, causing her whole body to shake like energy will give out at any second. I hold her hand, desperately wondering what to do, as Riley walks in with the 911 operator on speaker.