It always comes back.
* * *
“Lo siento, princesa.”Apollo helps me into the car with ease. Helping me has become as much of a part of our routine as working out or cooking together was before the accident. I’ve given up fighting him—it’s much easier for both of us if I accept defeat, and his help.
“What are you sorry for?”
He rolls his eyes before closing the car door, circling the hood, and hopping in the driver’s side. “That wasn’t the most creative date in the world.”
I fell asleep during the movie, waking up having drooled all down the front of his soft sweater. After the movie, we went to see Brian-the-pie-guy for food, and I’m now stuffed and fit to burst.
“I keep telling you, we’ve been dating for years. We just had no idea.” The idea is ridiculous, but paying attention to the time we spend together, the subconscious touches, the ease with which we exist in each other’s space. It’s hard to deny.
He starts the engine, and my stomach plummets. You’d think after four months it would get easier. My new therapist says it might never get easier. I’m as willing to accept that as I am to accept I’ll never dance again.
My gut churns as he eases the car out of the parking lot. His fingers find mine, intertwining our digits, and he gives a gentle squeeze. “Keep breathing, princesa.”
Nodding, I pinch my lips between my teeth to strangle the panic creeping up in my throat. It’s not always this bad. Sometimes I can get into a car with barely a flicker of fear, but other times it’s as though a heavy block has settled on my chest, preventing oxygen from getting into my body.
Apollo’s phone lights up in the center console, and I’m right back to that night, on that road. The coppery tang of blood in the air, the bone-deep cold, the crunching of the glass as the emergency service people approached the car.
A shiver cracks up my spine, making me squeak.
“Rough one?” His hand tightens around mine as I nod, picking up his phone.
“It’s Athena.” A groan slips out between my lips, and he chuckles.
“What is it?”
“She wants to know if we can head to your parents.”
His head snaps to me, then back to focus on the road ahead. “When? Now?”
The sweet apple pie in my stomach threatens to come back up. Neither of us want to face his father. But perhaps we need to get it the hell out of the way so we can move forward?
“Yeah.” My voice is barely a whisper. “She said your mom sent out the bat signal.”
He falls quiet for a moment, pausing at the lights at the intersection of Edgewood Road and Blairs Ferry. “Do you want me to drop you at home first?”
My heart flickers. His consideration, the desire to protect me from his family drama is touching. But I’m not letting him face this alone. “Can I come?”
He doesn’t even blink before he’s heading toward I-380.
This is going to be fun.
CHAPTER40
Apollo
Watching Mamá throw her arms around my girl as she balances awkwardly on her crutches thaws something inside my chest.
“Edith,querida, how are you? It’s so wonderful to see you.” Her smile is warm and genuine, suggesting she’s either not at all surprised I brought her, or she’s not bothered. It might even be both. “How’s your leg healing?”
Edith winces but smooths her delicate features as quickly as her next breath comes. “I’m okay, Gabi, thank you. It’s a long road. It’s going slowly.”
Mamá nods, her lips turning down in sympathy. “And painful.”
Edith shrugs like it’s no big deal, but Mamá knows better. She’s seen her hockey-playing kids recover from any number of injuries over the years. She knows there’s no greater pain than being kept from doing something you love while watching your peers continue to thrive at something you’re good at.
