Another One Bites the Dust by Jennifer Rardin

Author:Jennifer Rardin
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Jaz Parks
ISBN: 9780316023979
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2009-10-07T20:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

The next two hours drifted past like a slow boat through zombieland. Mostly I just stared. I did assure a concerned and quite humorless Dr. Darryl that I wasn’t suicidal and he wouldn’t be seeing me again this week. I agreed to see a sleep disorder specialist, and wasn’t even surprised such a thing existed. But when Vayl and I walked out of the emergency room, I threw the appointment card in the trash can.

“Why did you do that?” he demanded.

“This is for three weeks from now. No way am I going to survive these nightmares that long.”

We took a cab back to the hotel. I sat outside while Vayl dealt with the desk clerk. It was all very civil. They even shook hands at the end, though I wished there had been yelling. If she’d been pissed that I’d broken her window I wouldn’t have felt so mental.

After assuring him I could handle the walk back to the RV, I found myself wishing I’d let Vayl carry me. It might’ve lessened his guilt, which currently could’ve powered Vatican City for a week. It didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. I mean, he hadn’t even been there. But he felt like he should’ve. It was that sverhamin thing. I knew it without even asking. And guilt, well, it never plays fair.

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “We could get sandwiches.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Cold?”

“Not really.”

“Tired?”

“A little.”

“You should sleep,” he said. He banged his cane against the ground. “Never mind.” His eyes raked my bandaged arms. Moved down to my leg.

“It doesn’t hurt,” I told him.

“But it will.” Yup, soon the meds would wear off and I’d be one huge ouch.

What to say? “I forgive you.” That sounds arrogant. “It could’ve happened to anyone.” Obviously. “It’s my problem.” Not unless I want to be alone forever. Some words must exist, though, to thaw that frozen expression on Vayl’s face, the one hiding that massive feeling of I failed to protect you.

“You definitely owe me one,” I said.

“What?”

I touched his arm, stopped him so I could give him a long, frank look. “I’m gonna want some payback is all.” I grinned. “And with me, you know payback will be a bitch.”

He threw back his head and barked out a laugh that sounded ferocious and relieved at the same time. “I have no doubt about that. So, do you have any first requests?”

“Actually, yeah, I do. Could you clear something up for me?”

“I can try.”

“Just how many gold mines did you win playing poker?”

Minor lift of the eyebrow. “Have you been gossiping with the office staff again?”

“Just answer the question, mister.”

“One. I bought the other two about ten years later.”

“Oh.” I thought a minute. “You’re definitely the only person I’ve ever known who owns three gold mines.”

“Would you like to visit them with me someday?”

I think my toes are actually curling at the possibilities that question raises. “Yeah, I guess I would.”

His eyes lit. “Did you just agree to go on a

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