“Yes, first thing tomorrow is a different story,” I tell her.
I still don’t like the idea of her being anywhere but safe at home tomorrow, but we can have that argument when tomorrow comes.
Adam comes into the room at that point, saving me from any further arguments from Sailor. He smiles at her as he enters and holds up a discharge notice.
“You’re officially free to leave,” he says.
He hands Sailor the sheet of paper and gives me a bunch of keys.
“Car and house keys,” he says. “The diner isn’t far from here and I can walk. I would prefer Sailor to get a ride home. You can drive, right son?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I just prefer to walk most of the time.”
“But obviously not this time,” I add quickly before he can think I’m planning on walking Sailor through the streets.
“Good.” He nods. “Straight home and you are not to leave before I get back. Got that?”
I nod.
“And if anything happens, call me. I mean it, Rye. Even if it seems like something small or stupid. Call.”
“I will,” I tell him.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me going in to work, Biscuit? Just say the word if you’re not and I can call them and let them know now.”
Sailor shakes her head.
“No, honestly, Dad, I’ll be fine. You go to work. Rye will take good care of me.”
Adam smiles at Sailor. A warm smile that she returns.
“I’m so proud of you, Sailor. How you came to a new town and just embraced it. I’m happy that you have made such great friends. Friends that obviously care a lot about you.” He glances at me and then looks back at Sailor. “And a respectful young man who clearly thinks the world of you and was raised right.”
I wince slightly, his reference to me being raised right making me think of my parents again. I push the thoughts away. I need to be completely focused on Sailor and her safety right now. I won’t let her or Adam down.
Adam digs in his pocket and pulls out a can of mace, which he hands to Sailor with a wink.
“Just in case you need to protect Rye,” he says.
She takes it and giggles. Her smile is so beautiful, so pure, and her carefree giggle even in the face of all of this makes my heart hurt. I can’t help but wonder what her life would look like if she wasn’t the Paradox. Have we broken her and ruined her life by entering into it and putting all this responsibility and danger on her head?
I mean it was clear that before the team and I entered her life, she wasn’t exactly what you would call happy. She was angry about coming to Whisper, angry about her mom. But at least she and her dad had each other and were close. Now I can see the strain behind their once easy laughter. The caution behind their words.
Are we responsible for that? I certainly don’t think discovering she’s the Paradox and having to lie to Adam about things for his own safety has helped their relationship, but I can’t help but think that Raven’s appearance in their lives has caused more damage to their relationship than we have. But if Raven is part of Boundless, then that’s on us too.
The door to Sailor’s room opens and a nervous looking nurse comes in.
“Are you really sure about this, Mr. Monroe?” she asks.
He nods his head firmly.
“I’m sure.”
“And you know the risks of an early discharge?”
“Yes,” he says coldly. “And I feel like they are minimal compared to the risks of leaving her here.”
“Then I won’t try to talk you out of it,” the nurse says.
Adam relaxes slightly at that and some of the tension leaves the room. The nurse holds out a small paper bag and Adam takes it with a questioning frown.
“It’s just some pain meds in case Sailor needs any. And I know you had a bad experience, Mr. Monroe, but I want you to know that if anything happens or Sailor relapses, you are more than welcome to bring her back here. Or alternatively, take her to the hospital in the next town. Please don’t feel like there aren’t options.”
“Thank you,” Adam says tightly.
The nurse scuttles back out and Adam hands me the bag. He grins at Sailor.
“You’ll be okay with super Rye here. He had more success in treating you earlier than these morons ever could. Now I really do have to dash. Remember. Call me.”
I nod. He kisses Sailor on the top of the head and leaves. Sailor lets out a sigh and shakes her head.
“I figure he’s lost all faith in medical science,” she says.
I smile. “Yeah. Supernatural curses and symptoms can do that to a person.”
***
I pull the car up outside of Sailor’s house.
“Rye, look. The door is open,” she says, nodding towards the house.
She’s right. The front door is ajar ever so slightly.
“Maybe Raven didn’t pull it all the way shut when we were leaving last night,” I say. “Everything was kind of a rush. But just in case, I’m going to go check it out. I want you to stay here, okay?”
I get out of the car and Sailor follows me.
“What did I just say?” I demand.
“And what did you say at the hospital? Buddy system, remember? No one goes anywhere alone.”
Great. Now she decides to listen to me.
I roll my eyes and push the keys into my pocket, stepping closer to the house. Sailor is beside me. As we reach the door, I push her behind me and push the door open the rest of the way. A power ball flies toward us. I know I could dodge it but I only have a split second to think and I’m not sure if Sailor sees it. If she doesn’t and I dodge it, it’ll hit her. I grit my teeth and let it hit me in the shoulder.
It burns like holy hell, but I stay focused. I turn
