There it was again. More pronounced. She was shaking her headno.
No?She was scared. She wasn’t thinking straight.
But as I tried to help her to her feet, she pushed me away.
“He’ll be back any minute,” I pleaded.
Adrenaline coursed through me as I tried to imagine the best way out of Sterling. We could go straight through the library and down the main stairwell…but that would lead through the party. We could try the back stairwell to the kitchen instead. It had a door that led out the back.
“Maya?” Cecily’s face twisted in concern as she rushed in, followed by Daisy. “What the hell happened?”
“We need to call 911. She needs an ambulance,” Daisy said, looking her over.
“We should drive her there ourselves. It’ll be faster.” Cecily touched Lila’s shoulder. “Is she awake?”
Lila’s head lolled to her chest as Cecily and I hoisted her up. We slung her arms around our necks and managed to bring her all the way down the back stairwell through the kitchen exit to the backyard, but as we were stumbling toward the street, a door slammed open behind us.
In the doorway stood Professor DuPont.
Cecily shoved her keys in my hand. “My car’s out front.” She turned back to Professor DuPont, blocking his path.
My heart thudded in my ears as Daisy and I struggled to carry Lila to safety.
Once we’d reached the front yard, I looked back to see Cecily arguing with Professor DuPont. Cecily had her hands on her hips, blocking his line of sight, but when he caught sight of us, his face filled with rage.
I pressed the key, and Cecily’s car lit up. After we got Lila into the backseat, I slipped in the driver’s-side door and slammed it shut, heart thrashing in my chest.We need to go. Now!
My hands were shaking, palms slick with sweat, and I was having trouble with the keys.Come on. Come onnnn.
“What are you waiting for?” Daisy shouted from the backseat.
I shoved the key into the ignition and the engine roared to life. When I looked up, Professor DuPont was standing right in front of the car. His eyes locked on mine, and for a moment I didn’t know what to do.
Daisy was yelling, hitting my shoulder, and instinct kicked in.
I threw the car into reverse, knocking a bin over, before pulling off the curb. My heart was beating wildly, adrenaline making my head swim as I stepped harder on the gas. I glanced in the rearview at Lila, who was slumped over against the window. The only thing that mattered was getting to the hospital before we lost her.
Chapter Forty
Naomi
February 2023, three months before her death
That Sunday, Maya invites meover for lunch at her apartment in Brooklyn, an apology for missing the show, and on the train ride over, I can’t stop thinking about the picture Liam showedme.
—
Normally I’d beexcited to visit Maya’s Brooklyn apartment. I love the way she always has a pot of green tea and stacks of books and papers everywhere. It feels like home. But today, I’m more nervous than excited to see her.
“It’s so good to see you.” She gives me a hug at the door. Behind her, tiny footsteps patter across the hardwood. Maya yells back into the house, “Dani, guess who’s here?”
“Aunt N’omi!” Dani surges up to me and wraps her little arms around my knees, toppling me over.
I laugh, bending down to hug her. “Hey, kiddo! Jeez, what do you eat and how do I get some? You’ve grown another two inches!”
“Next year, I’m gonna bethistall!” She reaches high into the air.
“You’re almost as tall as me,” I say, impressed. “You keep going at this rate, pretty soon you’ll be a teenager.” I shoot a teasing look at Maya, who rolls her eyes.
