Page 115 of Hard Wired

Sylvie got home from work and dumped her things in her room. It had been another crappy day, the latest of many in the last few months. Nothing seemed to go right. Her codes were buggy. Her focus was inconsistent. Even her photographic memory had been erratic. Today, she’d completely botched the video analysis Max asked her to do. Priyanka had swooped in and finished it for her.

I need my mojo back, she thought. Though she didn’t know where to find it.

She started up the stairs to check in with Ethan and find out what he wanted for dinner.

Then she heard a voice she hadn’t encountered in a long time—not in person, anyway. She ran up the rest of the way to her cousin’s apartment.

“Faith?”

“Sylvie!”

Faith leaped up from the Ethan’s couch, her long blond hair flying. She tackled Sylvie in a hug. “It’s so amazing to see you. Look at you.” She pulled back and held Sylvie at arm’s length. “You’re so beautiful.”

“I was thinking the same thing about you. What on earth are you doing here?”

Sylvie had written to her former high school best friend over four months ago, just before all that happened at Charles Traynor’s house. Since then, she and Faith had been exchanging texts and talking on the phone several times a week.

Faith had told her how sorry she was for cutting off contact between them. Her family had given her an ultimatum—either forget about Sylvie and Ethan or lose the only home Faith had ever known. But they’d begged her not to go, pointing out how much she would struggle on her own.

So Faith had chosen the unhappy life that she knew and understood, rather than the terrifying uncertainty of freedom. She’d married at nineteen. But she’d always regretted losing her best friend.

Sylvie couldn’t deny that the rejection still hurt, even after Faith’s explanations and apologies. But she’d wanted Faith back in her life more than she wanted to hold on to some pointless old grudge.

“I left Jon.”

“Oh. God. I’m sorry.” They settled onto Ethan’s couch, holding hands.

“I’m not.”

Faith smiled at both the cousins. She’d always had the whitest, straightest teeth Sylvie had ever seen. Like a dentist’s commercial, which fit because Faith was a dental hygienist.

“Do you two realize this is the first time I’ve left Texas? I feel so free. I want to see everything. The beach and the Hollywood sign and Rodeo Drive. I want to go clubbing on Sunset Boulevard.”

“Okay, slow down,” Ethan said, laughing. “You should pace yourself.”

“Tell us what happened.”

Faith swept her hair over her shoulder and twisted it around her hands. “I haven’t been happy for a really long time. But talking to you lately, Sylvie, it gave me the courage to do something about it. You and Ethan have done so much with your lives. I can’t wait any longer to have the life I want. And there was just no way I could ever have it back home.”

“Wow. Okay.” Sylvie was trying to be happy for her friend. But she didn’t think she should be anyone’s role model.

Just leaving everything behind and starting over? It was going to be brutal. She didn’t know if Faith was truly prepared.

“You realize how rough this is going to be, right? My life is nowhere near perfect. Actually, it sucks at the moment.” Oops. Maybe that was more honesty than Faith needed. Unless it was exactly what Faith needed. Maybe it wasn’t too late to change her mind.

Ethan glared at her. “But we’re proud you’re taking this step, aren’t we Sylv? It’s probably the hardest part.” He patted Faith’s hand.

Sylvie snorted. “You think so? It should be the hardest part, and I used to think it was. But then more difficult things just keep coming at you. And then something great comes along, something beautiful and amazing, the thing you always wanted, and then the universe snatches it away again and breaks your heart.” Her eyes filled with tears. “And you’re right back to feeling lost again.”

Ethan jumped up from the couch. “Okay, I think Sylvie’s had a long day. Let’s get some dinner and discuss this later.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the stairs. “What is wrong with you?”

“I’m being realistic.”

“No, you’re putting your problems onto Faith. Maybe listen to her before making this all about you?”

“Ugh, tell her I’m sorry. I’m… I don’t even know lately.”

“Apologize yourself—later. You need a time out.”

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