“Are you asking if he’s sane and normal?”
I laugh. “I guess I am.”
“About as sane and normal as a champion chess player can be.” Quinn dips his chin. “He’s in a nursing home now. His body is failing him, but his mind is still sharp as a knife.”
“Sharp enough to beat you at chess?”
“Easily.”
The park darkens. We look up. The clouds that were hovering in the sky have crossed over the moon. The sky seems oppressive and heavy with the weight of impending rain.
“Uh-oh,” Quinn says.
“Let’s find some cover.” I tighten my grip on his hand and hurry through the park.
Splatters of rain hit us. We start to run, but Quinn’s knees buckle. I catch him as he falls, supporting him.
“Sorry,” he slurs.
I hug him tighter. He lets out a small gasp and sags completely. I’m the reason he hasn’t crashed to the ground. I’m unsure what has caused his cataplexy, but we’ll end up drenched if we don’t get under cover. I can just about see a bandstand, which should give us shelter.
“Would you mind if I carried you?”
His eyelashes flutter. “N-no.”
I scoop him up into my arms and adjust him until I’m sure I’ve got a good grip on him. Then I carry him as quickly as I dare towards the bandstand. We get under cover just as the heavens open and rain hurtles from the sky. It hits the path, bounces up, and splashes down. Within seconds, the path is covered in a sheet of water. The bandstand has open sides, so rain gets blown in by the breeze. We huddle in the very centre. The air temperature has dropped, and even though we’re both wearing warm coats, Quinn shivers in my arms.
“I can stand now,” he whispers, his words no longer slurred. “That was crazy romantic. Thank you.”
I set him down and then put my arms around him and rub his back, seeking to warm him up. “What happened?”
“I imagined you kissing me in the rain, and I must have drifted into dreaming. And then you hugged me.”
“And that made the cataplexy worse?”
“Sort of, yes. It made me more aroused, which made the cataplexy worse. It’s not always obvious to the people around me what’s triggering my cataplexy. I’m sorry if it freaked you out.”
“It didn’t.”
“Thanks for looking after me.” Quinn tilts his head. “You like taking care of people, don’t you?”
“Yes.” I stare at the rain. “When Mum left, I had to take care of Beau.”
“Even though he’s your twin?”
I crack a smile. “I’m older by almost ten minutes.”
“Does that count?”
“Yes. Especially in our fucked-up family.” I suck in a breath. I’ve opened a door. I can’t easily slam it shut now. “Dad’s been in and out of jail since we were ten. He was an accountant. His first conviction was for defrauding his clients. So-called friends turned on Mum, accusing her of knowing what he’d been up to. She lost everything—her husband, her pride, her friends. Not to mention her home and the ability to spend money like it was confetti. When Dad got out of jail, she walked out.” I wish we were standing in the rain, as it would hide the tears in my eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“I just—” I clench my teeth.
“Need to know she’s okay?”
“Yes. Maybe it is time to look for her. I know I should be angry. I should hate her. I should want her life to be miserable.”
