Page 251 of Hide and Keep

“Out in the hall.”

“For Edwin?”

She gives me a “duh” sort of look.

“How’s he doing?”

“I don’t know. I don’t care. You’ve been my only concern.”

“You haven’t heard from anyone else?”

That earns me a different look, one that says I should know better. I should. I do. Nobody talks to Ever in this house.

“Why did you eat it?” she asks me.

“It was the only way.”

“Only way to what?”

“Get Ryan fired. If I didn’t get sick, too, it would’ve been suspicious.”

“You could’ve died.”

“It would’ve been worth it.”

“For who?”

“You.”

Her head rotates side to side, her eyes glassy.

“You should’ve told me.”

“You would’ve tried to stop me.” She did try. Fucking threw my plate on the floor. Brat.

“Because it wouldn’t have been worth it. My freedom already has too high of a price.”

I frown up at her. “What does that mean?”

“It means don’t put yourself in danger for me ever again.”

“It’s my—”

“Don’t fucking say it’s your job again. We both know that’s bullshit, Crue.”

We stare at each other.

“It’s my choice. I’d choose your life over mine, every time, without hesitation.”

Voice raised with a crack in it as well, she replies, “Well, I’d choose yours!”

“Is that what you thought you were doing last night, trying to eat that shit?”

“Yes, actually. If you can poison yourself, so can I.”

That doesn’t even make sense. It defeats the entire purpose. And no, she fucking can’t. She doesn’t get to make that kind of choice.

“You sound so stupid right now,” I tell her.

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