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“I know you care about Maddox,” Eve says. “But this can’t go on.”

“I’m going to numb you up,” the nurse says.

Aislin is crying. I don’t think it’s from pain.

Before long the nurse leaves. Aislin’s nose looks a little like Eve’s leg. It’s a mess of white bandages.

Aislin gets up to examine herself in the mirror. “Ugh, how long do I have to look like this?”

“Look how fast my face healed up,” Eve offers.

“It’s going to take Aislin a lot longer than it took you,” I say. It’s out of my mouth. Too late to call it back now. For a second I think no one will say anything.

“Why should it take her longer?” Eve asks. It’s like I’ve dissed Aislin.

I don’t answer. I hang my head, elbows on my knees.

“Solo?” Eve presses. “Why aren’t you answering me?”

I look up through my eyebrows. I look pointedly at the bathroom. “In there.” I mouth the words soundlessly.

To my relief, both of them catch on immediately.

“Can you grab my wheelchair?” Eve asks me.

“Try standing,” I suggest.

She gives me a skeptical frown. “Are you kidding? No way.”

“Okay, then. I’ll play crutch,” I say, shrugging. Like it’s a hardship.

I slip my arm around Eve and help her hobble into the bathroom. Aislin follows, moving unsteadily.

With the door closed, it’s cramped but not too bad: The suite is roomy and so is the bathroom. I rummage in the medicine cabinet, then in the drawers. I pull out a pair of scissors.

“What are you doing?” Eve asks.

I kneel in front of her. “Which is easier? Hike up or drop trou?”

She sees what I’m getting at. With a rather baleful expression on her face, Eve slides the pajama bottoms down. They puddle around her ankles.

“That’s what you wear for panties?” Aislin protests.

“They’re comfortable.”

I have no comment. I am content to swallow hard.

The thick bandages extend from her ankle to her upper thigh. Her upper, upper thigh. Very carefully, hands trembling, I pull the edge of the bandage away from her thigh and insert the scissors, point down.

Aislin runs her index finger along her bandaged nose. “You know, now that I think about it, it’s weird, the way they didn’t give you a cast for that leg.”

“Actually, it’s not so weird,” I say.

“What are you doing?” Eve asks. But not with any serious intent. Not like she’s actually going to stop me. There’s a quaver in her voice.

I cut.

Down the inside of her thigh.