Page 89 of Second Chance

“Jesus,” Tony says again. So much for not rediscovering Catholicism.

“And I always knew this place was creepy as fuck,” Daniel continues. “I told Colette every time she and Mario wanted to come here that it’s always cold, the chairs are covered in scratched-up stickers and gross old gum, and it’s not a fun place to watch a movie. They never showed good movies anyway. It was always weird arthouse shit—”

“Sweetheart, I love you so much, but this isnotthe time.”

There’s nothing but the hum of cicadas and distant cars passing on the 9G for a moment.

“I love you, too, Tony,” Daniel says.

Abruptly, Tony starts crying. The tears have been lying in wait for him all day, and hearing Daniel say those words to him reminds him he told himself twenty separate times he might never get the chance.

“And I’m so sorry, but I can’t leave her,” Daniel adds. “Not now. It’s dangerous. They’re both high, and she’s been swinging that damn rifle around like a toy. She shot a hole in the wall and thenlaughed. She’s… I’ll never forgive myself if I leave her here for the police to take care of and she doesn’t even get a chance, or if she hurts herself, or…”

“I’ll never forgive myself if youdiewhen I could have saved you.” Tony’s voice breaks as he says it.

“Tony…”

“It’s not going to change what Mario did if you get hurt over it. It’s not going to bring Andrew back to life.”

“I know.”

Tony takes a deep, unsteady breath. “Look, I…I need you to be safe.”

“Well, he left, and she’s totally out of it right now.”

“So, we’ll get you both out. We’ll get you both out, and we’ll figure out how to help her, andthenwe’ll call the police.”

“That’s the problem though. I don’t think she’ll come with us. Not while she’s like this.”

“Have you asked her?”

Daniel shifts against the door. He must be leaning his head on it. “I tried earlier. She kept saying it was all her fault, and that I didn’t understand. I’m scared she’ll hurt herself. And what if she goes into withdrawal or something?”

Tony thinks for a minute. “I have some ideas. Can you sit tight here for, like, an hour?”

“Can’t do much else,” Daniel says wryly.

“You think Sean’ll be back?”

“He said he was going to his dorm. Honestly, I hope he doesn’t come back. They seem to bring out the worst in each other.”

As much as it pains Tony to say it, Sean is probably completely out of his depth here. “It’s probably better for him if he isn’t involved anymore. As an accessory or whatever. He’ll be in enough trouble.”

“I didn’t even think about that.” Something hits the metal of the door dully. Probably Daniel’s head, more self-flagellation. “You’re right. If you make it back early enough, we’ll probably be able to leave before he returns. That might…protect him.”

Early enough. Tony’s not getting any fucking sleep tonight. “I don’t want to leave you here.”

“Is this where I say something brave and cinematic like ‘the sooner you leave me, the sooner you get back’?”

Maybe it’s the situation, maybe it’s the lack of sleep, maybe it’s the idea of Daniel as a movie damsel in distress, but Tony laughs. “I guess.”

“I don’t want you to go either.”

“I’ll get you out as soon as I can.”

“I love you.”

Tony’s heart does something truly stupid in his chest. “I love you too. I want to see your face the next time you say that.”

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