—and I ignore the rest. A dozen others are administrative. Two messages are from Nazeera.
One is from my wife.
I like the name Lily for a girl. :) But if it’s a boy we should name him Aaron. Then I’ll have two of you. :) :)
A sharp pain pierces me through the chest. For a second, I can’t breathe.
“You good?” says Kenji, studying me. I feel his concern rising. He rests a hand on my back, and I manage not to flinch.
“Yes,” I say, looking up. I glance again at the messages, distracted. My heart is pounding.
Two still unread from Nazeera:
Looks like Rosabelle is ready to start talking
You should get over here now
I send off a response:Coming
She answers immediately:Do you want waffles
I delete all the messages except for Ella’s. Hers I’m still staring at, my heart beating faster, when I feel Kenji’s anxiety rise up around me again.
“Bro, what’s going on? Why do you look so weird right now?”
“It’s nothing,” I say, pulling myself together. “Nazeera says Rosabelle has started talking. She says we should get over there now.”
“Nazeera said that?” Kenji raises his brows. “She said it just like that?”
I put the pager away. “Yes.”
He shoots me a loaded look. “Did she sayyou and Kenji should get over here? Or did she sayyou should get over here?”
“She said we should both head over there.”
His jaw drops open. “You dirty, filthy liar.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Let me see your pager.”
“No.”
“Hand it over.”
“No.”
“I will reach right into your pocket, bro; I am not afraid of you—”
My pager buzzes again, and I reach for it automatically. Defensively. Kenji crowds me, trying to read over my shoulder, and I start walking to get away from him.
When I scan the message, I come to a violent stop.
“Who is it?” Kenji says, catching up to me. “Is that her? Tell her if she wants me to come over she should page me herself. No, you know what—tell her I’m not coming—”
I look up at Kenji, not seeing him.
My mind is already working too fast.
