Definitely. She looked awful. But I just said, “They’re still an hour away, at least. I’m sure he’ll be more concerned with Serj.”
She whimpered and curled up inside the coat. “What time is it?”
“Five thirty. Crap, Frida.”
“Exie will feed her.”
“She’s at Fen’s place,” I murmured, wishing I had his aunt Zabel’s phone number. She could unlock Fen’s apartment if needed. Or maybe I should just make a quick trip out to Zabel’snow, take Frida back to Mad Dog’s while we were still waiting.
“Wow. Fen?” Velvet said. “No comment.”
“No comment needed,” I retorted. “I seem to remember rescuing some people from bar mascots, so… you know.”
“I don’t how many times I can apologize.”
“So far that would be zero.”
Velvet chuckled huskily. “Oops. Very sorry. No, no—Imeanthat. I truly am sorry. Sitting here is sobering in every sense of the word. I don’t want to end up like Eddie. Or Fen—what if Daddy kicked me out of the house like that?”
I watched her for a moment. “He wouldn’t.”
She gave me a soft smile. “I think you might be right. Daddy is gooey in the center. Serj is stone. That’s probably why his heart burst.” She stared at the ceiling, thinking about this for a moment, then said, “Can you get me something cold to drink? I need a soda or water or something. Didn’t we pass a café down one of these corridors?”
Right. I was still her assistant.
She made a face at me. “I didn’t mean itthatway. It’s not a command.”
“No worries. I got you.”
After peeling myself off the chair, I left Velvet in the waiting room, ambling past blank faces staring at their phone screens. This was an enormous hospital, funded by rich donors who lived around the lake. Signs pointed to surgical wings, elevators, and a snack bar. But when I passed the corridor where the Sarafians were holed up inside their private lounge, I saw a dark figure emergingfrom the door there. Tall, slender, male. He was heading through a set of glass doors that led outside—into a small meditation garden that sat between two buildings. Fen?
Maybe he needed time alone, I wasn’t sure. But I had to find out if he was okay, so I quietly slipped outside, surprised by how cool the predawn air was on my arms. It was nice out here, peaceful. Sculpture and plants, tiny golden lights that lit up the footpath. Two benches. I hesitantly stepped toward the one that was occupied.
“Hey,” I said.
“Honestly surprised to see you here,” the figure said.
I stilled in place. That wasn’t Fen.
Eddie.
How could I have gotten them confused? Panic fired through me, and as I took a step back, Eddie turned his head. The lights from the path shone up on his face. He was haggard—a complete wreck. His suit jacket was gone, and his tie dangled like a noose around his neck.
I had no idea what to say to him. On sheer survival instincts, I tried to conjure up the sweet, smiling boy that I used to know and pasted that image on the body of the boy that slumped on the bench in front of me now. But it didn’t help.
He was still a stranger. One who wasn’t entirely friendly. Maybe it was just in my mind, all the guilt that had been building up over Fen, but it felt as if he were radiating low waves of animosity in my direction.
“Is there… uh, your father?” I said awkwardly, stumbling over words I could quite reach.
“No change,” he said.
“Ah, okay. Well, I’ll just leave you—”
“What? No hug? It’s been a minute.” He held out his arm, beckoning.
Hug? Dear sweet lord. I didn’t know what to do. Was he testing me? I couldn’t tell from his tone, which was strained, yes. But under the circumstances, that wasn’t too surprising. I just couldn’t read him.
Had he not gotten my texts while he was overseas?
