Page 82 of Off the Wall

Hmmm. I guess I have been paying pretty close attention. And honestly, watching Nori in her element these past few weeks—with her coworkers at the shop and Hayden and Keeley at home—has been a reminder of exactly what I’ve been missing for years now. True connection. Human feelings, not just the rods and screws that piece broken people back together. I’ve got scars on the outside anyone can see, but I hide the real cracks from almost everyone else I meet.

Except for Nori.

Against my better judgment, I’ve shown her some of whatlies underneath my surface, and that’s left me feeling raw. Exposed. Vulnerable. Like it might be time for me to move on. Literally.

Speaking of which, I haven’t told her yet that I’m moving to LA. I just couldn’t make the words come out. At first, I convinced myself the kind thing to do was wait until she secured the funding for her loan. After all, we’re not in some kind of goal competition. And I didn’t want to swoop in and meet mine before she reached hers. But the truth is, I don’t want Nori to pull away from me. And I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s going to happen once she knows I’m leaving. She’s the only new friend I’ve made in a while.

We’re a whole hand now.

And I’m not ready for her to let go.

“Are you heading back home?” she chirps.

Home.

The word chips a piece of my heart off like a pickaxe. “Yep,” I grunt, ignoring the throb behind my ribs.

“Well, I’m starving.” She grins, pretty big for someone who’s hungry. “Want to order some takeout? My treat.”

“No way you’re paying for my dinner,” I protest. “You just spent a boatload getting your car running again.”

“Fine. Something cheap, then. Like pizza.”

“I like pepperoni and olive.” I shrug. “Does Aria deliver?”

She puffs out a laugh. “Aria is one block away from The Serendipity. We could just walk there.”

“I’m feeling lazy.”

“You know what?” She tips her head. “Being lazy tonight actually sounds pretty wonder?—”

My phone starts chiming in the cupholder. Nori’s eyes dart down to the name on the screen, and my heartbeat revs. It’s Sandra Fulsome calling.

Awful timing, Sandy.

“Hey, there,” I say, taking the call and resenting the poor woman unfairly.

“Dr. Arnold needs you in here now.” Her words spill out fast and urgent. “It’s the kid who dove into the pool.”

Travis.

The twelve-year-old from a few weeks ago with the fractured C1, C2. Technically, I’m not supposed to remember anything about the patients I see, but even after I’ve crossed their names off the billing records, the details stick with me. Maybe this is because I used to be the patient too. But I can’t help thinking about who they are. Who they were. Who they might still become after their surgeries.

“What happened?” The tightness in my chest increases and bile rises in my throat.

“He’s got an infection we can’t figure out. Dr. Arnold has to open him up, and we might need to replace some of the implants.”

I swallow hard. “Is it bad?”

“It’s not good,” she grits out.

“Tell Dr. Arnold I’m on my way.”

Chapter Thirty

Nori

I’ve never seenthat look on Cash’s face before. His jaw was clenched, his eyes hollowed out. The crease on his forehead could’ve been the Grand Canyon. He’d asked if the situation was bad, and then he took off. So it must be bad. Right?

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