Out in the hospital hall, I stare at Amy’s door for a few seconds, a mix of relief and disappointment swirling in the pit of my stomach. After all those long hours thinking I was about to lose her, I’msorelieved she’s alive, at least. But I’m disappointed we didn’t get to have that conversation I was planning.
I don’t know what I was expecting, exactly—but it definitely wasn’t the slap-down she just served me. I’ve had two days to turn it over in my mind, and I was picturing her flinging her bedpan at me or throwing her drip in my face, or something. I’d have taken it—I deserve it, after all. Then, in the movie version in my head, everything would be cool between us. We would have kissed it all better and had amazing makeup sex, right there on her plastic-coated hospital bed. But she wasn’t even mad at me. She just looked sad. And that’s rattled me. This was my chance to make things right between us, but I feel like they’re worse than they’ve ever been.
“Leaving already?”
I spin around to find Charlotte and Raven stepping out of the elevator.
I nod.
“So, the crash didn’t soften her up, huh?”
“Same old badass as ever.”
“Just remember what I told you—Amy needs reassurance. This is all so new for her.”
“It’s a new one for me, too. Both of us are clueless.”
I had a good few hours to discuss the Amy situation with Raven while we waited, and that’s how it finally dawned on me—I’d been in denial about how I felt about her sister.
The Hitman women kick ass.
“You’re not gonna give up that fast, are you?”
“No way! But she’s not gonna make this easy for me, that’s for sure.”
“Well, sheisa Hitman!”
When the elevator doors slide open, Raven’s smile fades. “You again?”
Esteban slinks out, slouching against a wall, keeping his distance.
Smart move.
I hate this guy’s guts—him hanging around here is yet another thing standing in the way of me and Amy.
“How’s she doing?” he asks nervously.
“She went back to sleep,” I growl. “How’s your nose?”
His face is bandaged up—when he rolled up to the hospital and started saying he was Firebird’s boyfriend, I channeled all my fear and anger into him. No regrets.
“It’s not broken. Guess you were a little too limp-wristed.”
“I could try again,” I offer.
“Okay, guys. Let’s all be a little less gorilla, a little more human fucking being,” Charlotte says.
“Hey, don’t look at me—I’m cool.” Esteban stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I’m heading back to New York.”
“My sister isn’t going with you,” Raven warns. “You coming to Sycamore Heights… This whole situation has been weird as hell. Emil never replied to my messages, but when I wrote to tell him Amy was in an accident, he was suddenly all over me like a rash. That’swhen he told me about your scheming.” She narrows her eyes. “You both wanted her back in Brooklyn, but you forgot something, didn’t you? I’m a Hitman through and through, and I’m warning you—don’t fuck with me. You made her life hell, and now look—it’s happening all over again, except this time, in Sycamore Heights. So, I don’t give ashitif she’s all over you…”
“She’s all overmebecausehewas AWOL.” Esteban shoots me a dirty look. “If you’d just shown up at the bar that night like you were supposed to…”
I clench my fists, and it’s myself I’m mad at right now.
“I hope you had a good time,” I snarl. “Because guess what? I’m back in the running.”
He shakes his head slowly, staring me straight in the eye. “She doesn’t love me. I’ve known her since she was a kid, and I’m telling you—I’ve never seen her this broken. I thought that was my in—my chance to get her back. But… It turns out I care too much.” His gaze drifts back to Raven. “It kills me to admit it, but there’s nothing for her in New York. I know that.” He swallows. “Can I at least say goodbye?”
