A long string of texts from David stared back at her from her cell.
How r u feeling?
Is ur head ok?
I’m so sorry this happened.
Please text me back.
She scrolled through them for at least the tenth time. Maybe it wasn’t fair not to respond, but she couldn’t bring herself to write a message back. Every time she thought about David, she replayed the accident in her mind. Saw the white car hurtling toward them from the other side of the freeway. Saw the woman singing. Heard the crunch of metal, the blare of sirens.
If only he hadn’t tried to pass the other car. If only he hadn’t looked over at her. If only they hadn’t tried to find Morgan . . .
If only.
But what would’ve happened to that woman if they hadn’t been in between her and the other car? She shuddered. If she thought driving was scary before, how would she ever do it now?
Her phone buzzed, and she jumped. David must be having trouble sleeping, too.
Hey, it’s Morgan.
She gasped. Mom stirred, and Rae turned her back to her so she would think Rae was sleeping if she woke up.
Another buzz.
Heard about the accident. R u okay? Got ur number from Mark.
Stunned, she hurried to reply.
Yeah, I’m fine. Head injury. He gave out my number?
Only after I promised to wait until morning to use it.
So much for that promise. But Morgan was alive! He texted again.
I’m at the hospital. Up for a visitor?
Pretty sure visiting hours are over.
Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve snuck into a hospital room. Be there in 5.
She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder at her poor mom, sleeping fitfully. That neck angle didn’t look good. It would probably be doing her a favor to wake her up at this point.
Ok.
She tucked the phone out of sight. “Mom?”
Mom’s head jerked up. “What? Yes? What’s the matter? What do you need?”
Her hair was smushed flat on one side. Rae couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen her looking so disheveled.
“I’m hungry.”
Mom rubbed her eyes. “The cafeteria’s closed, sweetie. There are some crackers and candy bars in the vending machine.”
Rae had to think fast. “What about the gas station?”
She’d seen the red Conoco sign across the street through her window before Mom shut the curtains for the night.
Mom ran her fingers through her hair. “Are you sure you’re up to eating something? The doctor said with your concussion—”
“I just really want some ice cream. Then I can take ibuprofen for my head.”
Mom stood and yawned. “Maybe the nurse will have something you can eat.”
“But the Conoco always has Ben and Jerry’s. Please, Mom. Chunky Monkey?”
She was wavering, Rae could tell. Time to move in for the kill.
“You know I’ll puke if I take ibuprofen on an empty stomach.”
“All right.” Mom picked up her purse from the floor. “But don’t you leave this bed. I’ll be right back.”
Rae smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”
She did love Chunky Monkey.
Mom stumbled out of the room, still half asleep. The door clicked shut behind her.
Rae held her breath. How on earth was Morgan going to—?
The door opened again, and a dark figure slipped in.
She pulled up the light blue blanket, suddenly aware of her thin hospital gown. Why had she agreed to see him? But the room was dark, and she had no intention of turning on the light.
“Why are you so good at sneaking around?” she whispered.
He shrugged. “My mom’s been in the hospital a few times.”
There must be more to that story. Why would a kid have to sneak in to see his own mother?
She didn’t press the issue. “My mom will be back soon.”
He stood at the foot of her bed, hands in the pocket of his hoodie. “Your face looks bad.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“I meant—”
“Where have you been? We’ve been worried about you.”
“Who’s we?”
Her head throbbed. She adjusted her pillow so she could lean back on it without lying all the way down. “Me and David, we went to your house.”
“That was a dumb thing to do.”
Yes. Well. She squinted at him in the dark. “Boss was mad.”
Morgan laughed a humorless laugh. “I bet he was. I can’t stand that guy. I’ve been staying with a friend of my mom. My mom’s thinking about leaving Boss and coming to live there, too.”
“Oh.” Her brain was firing slower than usual, yet it didn’t need much spark to know what Morgan said was a good idea. “I’m glad.”
“Me too.”
“Gerrit told me what happened.”
Morgan looked away. “He said he didn’t care about me. About either of us, actually.”
“No he didn’t.”
“I heard him.”
She closed her eyes. That ice cream and ibuprofen couldn’t come soon enough. “You didn’t hear everything. He told me what really happened. What he was trying to say.”
Morgan didn’t answer, and she opened her eyes. “You should’ve seen him when I talked to him earlier today. He was worried sick about you. He had an accident, too, you know.”
His eyes bored into hers. “What do you mean?”
“He fell from a ladder. Cracked some ribs and stuff.”
“But he acted like I wasn’t even supposed to be there, even though he’d reminded me about the party like a hundred times.”
She groaned. “I didn’t give you the stupid message. I’m sorry.”
“What?”
“He changed the party from three to four. I was supposed to tell you.” She yawned, causing pain to shoot down the right side of her face.
Morgan looked over at the door. “I should go.”
“Don’t be mad at him. He does care about you.”
Maybe it was the darkness that made honesty easy, or maybe it was because she was so vulnerable herself. Whatever it was, for just a moment Morgan dropped his mask for the first time since she’d talked to him that day in Room F.
His voice was thin but heavy. “Sometimes it’s easier to keep people at a distance.”
She thought of all David’s texts that she hadn’t answered. How he must be going crazy, wondering if she was okay and
