Swap Out by Golding Katie

Author:Golding, Katie [Golding, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-12-25T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16: PULLING PRIORITIES

I head into Zoe’s house, following the sounds of her in the kitchen.

“Luca?” she calls out.

“Yeah.”

I pause and return to the door to take off my boots because I forgot, then walk into the kitchen and lean against the archway, watching her move around with her back to me.

“You’re late,” she says playfully. “And I was starving so I went ahead and started cooking without you but it should be—is that blood on your shirt?”

Her eyes are wide in alarm as she stares at me over her shoulder, and when I look…yep, there’s definitely blood. Great.

“It’s fine,” I mutter, but Zoe still rushes over, her fingertips scanning my face and chest and arms like I’m hiding some massive injury.

“Are you hurt?” she whispers, her hands trembling, and I shake my head.

“Scott’s got a…headache, so they’re keeping him overnight at the hospital. No big deal.”

“A headache?” she asks suspiciously, and I clear my throat.

“Where’s—”

“She went home. What happened to Scott?”

“Nothing it was…shit got a little screwed up with the jump and he got a minor concussion and—”

“A concussion?” she damn near shrieks, and I wince. “I thought you said this was safe!”

“Minor concussion, Zoe. And it is safe but it’s like…falling off your bike. It happens, and it’s not a big deal.”

I walk exhaustedly over to the kitchen table, sitting down with a sigh.

“This isn’t a bicycle,” she says as she stops in front of me. “This is a plane you’re jumping out of.”

I groan and pinch her shirt to pull her forward, wrapping my arms around her waist and laying my head on her stomach. She squirms uncomfortably because I’m not allowed to do this, not permitted to acknowledge or show any affection to my kid.

But she can suck it up for five minutes and get over it.

“Luca…”

“Gimme a break, I had a bad day,” I mutter, and she blows out a breath before her hand cups the back of my head. “How are you?”

“I’m worried and wondering why you won’t tell me what happened.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, my eyes rolling when I see Scott is texting me.

“Is that him?” Zoe asks, and I nod.

So much for my next career as a secret agent. Check out ABC4…

I look up at Zoe and her eyes widen like she must have read the text over my shoulder, then she rushes into the living room.

“Zoe, don’t,” I plead, but she still turns on the TV to the local news station and I stop beside her, my mouth gaping and temper flaring when I see what they’re showing. “For fuck’s sake! Isn’t there crime to report?”

“Shut up,” she snaps, then turns up the volume so the voice of the reporter comes in loud and clear.

“I’m standing here at the site where earlier today, many witnessed an event that could only be described as a daring act of heroism when what began as a training exercise in Accelerated Freefall quickly spun out of control.”

“Zoe, turn this crap off.

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