I giggled. “Say what?”
“New heart, new me. I’m basically version 2.0,” he proclaimed confidently.
I shook my head, fighting a smile. “You’re so unserious.”
“I’m very serious. Matter of fact… do I got extra lives now?”
I blinked. “Extra lives?”
“Yeah,” he nodded like it made perfect sense. “Like in a game. I died once and came back. That gotta count for something.”
I snorted. “You did not die!”
“I was close,” he countered. “That should at least give me like… two extra chances.”
“Boy, life doesn’t work like Mortal Kombat.”
“Well, it should. I done been through enough.”
I strolled over and sat on the edge of the bed, nudging his leg. “You’re silly.”
He beamed at me. “But I’m alive, though.”
“Yeah… you are.”
Kyrin glanced at me, catching the shift in my tone. “Aye,” he said, nudging me back. “Don’t get all emotional again. You already cried enough for both of us.”
I rolled my eyes, but I knew he was right. I blinked away the stinging sensation that threatened to break free.
“I did not.”
“You did,” he laughed. “But for real though, thank you.”
That time, I didn’t deflect with humor. I reached over and squeezed his hand. “Always.”
And that time, I meant it in a way that felt different, because I didn’t have to fight anymore, I didn’t have to scramble, and I didn’t have to wonder.
“Jo…” Kyrin started, a hint of hesitation in his voice.
I turned my head slightly, fixing him with a curious glance. “Yeah, sport?”
“Have you talked to Mama?”
My stomach tightened.
I should’ve known that question was coming eventually.
“Yeah… once,” I answered, keeping my tone neutral.
Kyrin nodded slowly.
I looked at him. “Haveyoutalked to her?”
“Every day since she’s been here. She told me why she took the money.”
I remembered that conversation I had with him before all of this, sitting him down, explaining what she did; not sugarcoating it but not poisoning him against her either… just the truth.
Kyrin let out a soft breath, and I could see the conflict in his eyes.
