It took everything Zack had to keep a smile plastered on his face even as her words made his stomach heave.

Chapter 19

The next day, Zack got all the way through his morning ablutions before he remembered he had nowhere to go. On top of that, he had a roaring hangover, the likes of which he hadn’t experienced since the Great Tequila Fiasco, aka his nineteenth birthday. He should have known better than to break his golden rule: whiskey was a sipping liquor, not a shot.

He stumbled out of his room and into the kitchen. He fried up an absurd number of eggs and ate them ravenously while Ziggy watched.

“Don’t judge me,” Zack mumbled around a mouthful.

Ziggy turned and trotted down the hallway.

When Zack had finished eating, he did the dishes, dried them, and cleaned the stove. For good measure, he wiped down the countertops as well and took out the trash. It wasn’t until he pulled out the mop that he’d used a grand total of three times in the last year that he admitted to himself he was stalling.

He needed to start looking for a job, and he had no idea where to begin.

Miraculously, there came a knock at the door.

“Halle-fucking-lujah,” Zack muttered as he answered it.

Mrs. Alvarez was on the other side. Zack instantly brightened. “Morning! How are you?”

“I’m all right, Zack. Thank you for asking.” She was wearing a loose red dress, and her shiny black hair was twisted up into a loop. Her lips were pressed into a thin line instead of her usual smile, and her eyes were weary in a way Zack had never seen before. “I’m afraid I have bad news.”

Zack’s entire body tensed. A memory thundered through him: Mr. Alvarez saying he was going to the hospital for tests. “Oh my God, is it Mr. Alvarez? Is he okay?”

“James is fine,” she responded. “He had a mild cardiac episode last night, but seeing as he was already in a hospital, it was handled as well as could be expected. I just wanted to come by and let you know in case you wanted to visit him.”

“I’ll go right now.” Zack started to turn away in a panic, but then he caught himself. “Do you need anything? Can I get you groceries or help with chores?”

Mrs. Alvarez smiled, and a hint of her usual vibrant self shone through like the sun peeking out from behind clouds. “I can manage just fine, though I’m going to give you a bag of things to bring to my husband when you visit him, if that’s all right.”

“Of course,” Zack said. “Anything you need. Where is he?”

“He’s at Silver Lake.”