I stare at him.
He stares at me.
The music thumps from downstairs, muffled and distant, like it's coming from another planet.
Seven years. Switzerland. The best opportunity of his life.
And me.
Doc's eyes are wet. His hands are still shaking. He looks like he's waiting for me to shatter.
I open my mouth.
Nothing comes out.
Chapter 33
100% Bottom Energy
Gavin
My brain goes completely blank.
Switzerland.
Seven years.
Doc is standing there, eyes wet, hands shaking, waiting for me to say something. Waiting for me to fall apart.
Switzerland.
My mind starts grabbing at random facts like a drowning man reaching for driftwood.
Amazing chocolate. And cheese. Mountains everywhere. Watches, they make really good watches. Neutrality, that's a thing. Swiss banks. That's definitely a thing, right? Rich people love Swiss banks.
Doc's expression is crumbling. He thinks my silence means something bad.
Say something, idiot. Open your mouth and say words.
"Okay," I hear myself say. "When do we go?"
Doc blinks.
"What city will we live in?" I'm picking up steam now, my brain finally coming back online. "Bern? That's the capital, right? Or is it Zurich? I always get those confused. Zurich sounds fancier, but Bern sounds more... I don't know, cozy?"
Doc is staring at me like I've started speaking in tongues.
I reach out and grab him, pulling him toward me until he's standing between my legs. My hands find his hips, and I tug him closer so I can lean up and kiss him.
He kisses back, but it's stiff. Confused.
"What are you talking about, Gavin?"
"I love cheese and chocolate," I say against his lips. "And traveling is going to be amazing. We can visit all those little villages in the Alps. Oh fuck—" I pull back suddenly. "I need a passport. I don't have one of those. How long does that take? Do I need to go to a special office, or?—"
"Gavin."
Something in his voice makes me stop.
