She shrugged, again feeling weird about talking to Nalu about this, but she had no one else.
“But you know what?” he said.
“What?”
He gave her a sideways glance. “You’re even more of a badass, and he would be lucky to have you. Any guy would.”
“Thank you, Nalu. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“And about Luke, one thing I can say is, whatever he’s not telling me is haunting him. He carries it with him in his eyes.”
“Yeah. I could see that. Like he’s always got something heavy on his mind.”
Doesn’t everyone.
They passed over a bridge, a stream of reddish water raging below. Then the hospital sign. An image of Luke’s incredibly potent stare came into her mind, sending a line of warmth up her neck. As much as she’d wanted to get out of his sphere as fast as possible last night, part of her had hoped he’d come after her. For all he knew, she was leaving and that could’ve been the last time he’d see her.It’s better this way,she told herself. Luke was a distraction to leave behind. A small blip on her radar.
At the hospital the parking lot was packed with vans and people milling about the entrance. Rows of agapanthus bloomed in small purple explosions, full of bees. A light drizzle was falling. Minnow had gone as far as brushing her hair, putting on lipstick and mascara, and wearing a beaded necklace, one of her mother’s.
Angela was standing by the window when they walked in, dressed in a white fleece jacket and wearing red lipstick. She turned and smiled. “You ready?”
Minnow and Nalu both stood there, gaping. Gone was the severely wounded and drugged hospital patient. This was the Angela the world knew and loved. Makeup seamlessly covered the scar on her face, and her eyes were much clearer than the last time Minnow had seen her.
“I told them no more pain meds. I don’t know what was worse, those or the shark bite,” Angela said with a sly smile. “I’m still feeling weak, but it’s nice to have a reason to pull myself together.”
“Thank you for agreeing to do this.”
“It’s the least I can do. Zach was wholeheartedly against it—he’s still mad at the sharks. I told him he could go back to California if he didn’t support me.”
Sadly, there were lots of people like Zach. “Did he go?”
“No. He thinks I’m still off my rocker from the meds, but I was serious. I’m all in to help you and I don’t want his disapproving looks and bullying,” Angie said, lifting her arm and looking down, as if checking her watch. But the sleeve was empty and flopped down. She blinked hard; then her eyes met Minnow’s.
Minnow walked over and gave her a hug, careful not to press too hard.
Angie melted in her arms. “It’s been so fucking hard.”
“I know.”
“One moment you’re having the time of your life, the next you’re fighting for it with everything you’ve got. We all live with this illusion thatit—that horrible, most feared thing—could never happen to us, but I’m here to tell you that it can. And miracle of miracles, I survived. So what now?”
“Now you live, the same as before. Only better. With eyes wide open.”
“Eyes and heart and soul. I feel so raw, like I’ve been skinned alive. It’s hard to explain.”
Minnow stepped away, letting go. “From the ashes, isn’t that what they say?”
Angie smiled again, this time wide and radiant. “Hell yes. Let’s do this.”
Nalu pushed her in the wheelchair through the maze of hallways and out to the front, her personal security guy trailing behind. She could walk, but all that blood loss had weakened her, and it would take a while to regain her strength. They paused at the double sliding doors and she looked at Minnow.
“I hope you’re ready for this,” Angie said.
Minnow was never ready to be on TV, but she forced a smile. “Absolutely.”
The three of them went out into the cold, hard wind. Angie was the only one dressed for the occasion and goose bumps spread over Minnow’s whole body. Cameras snapped and reporters crowded around them.
