Page 133

He attempts a casual manner. “Who will you vote for?”

“I’ll tell you when you tell me who you’re dating.”

He leans back in his chair. “Fine. I guess we’ll both be disappointed or pleasantly surprised.”

“Only pleasantly surprised, Dad. I could never be disappointed if you’re happy.”

I close my eyes again as he squeezes my hand in his. “You’re my everything, Jules.”

Before, I was.

But now, he has someone else who could become even more of his everything. And I’m okay with that. Because I’ve found someone else to complete me, too.

“You get some sleep now, okay?” he whispers, pulling up my covers.

“I will. But I’m gonna talk to Archer before the night ends.”

“Jules...He might’ve gone home.”

“He’ll be in the waiting room,” I say assuredly, sleep creeping ever closer. “You’ll see.”

“Okay.” He kisses my forehead, and his chair scoots across the hospital floor before I drift asleep.

Archer

I wait an hour. Still, there’s no word.

Mr. Monroe hasn’t come back through the doors, either. I don’t expect him to tell me how Juliet is, but I’ll stay here in the waiting area until I see her or the nurses throw me out.

Midnight approaches, and Sadie texts.

Sadie

Any news?

Archer

None. Sorry I had to bail.

Sadie

It’s fine. Everything went okay after you left. They all kept telling me to tell you how fun it was this year.

I give the message a “like” because I don’t know how else to respond. What did it matter if people had a good time? Juliet didn’t.

James

Sadie just told me there’s no updates. Sorry, man.

James and Sadie are still together, then? They seemed perfectly content with each other tonight. It made me happy seeing them on the front of the wagon together as I rode past in my silly little costume.

It made me happy to see Juliet there, too.

I hope it wasn’t the thing that made her sick.

Archer

I just hope nothing’s crazy wrong, you know?