Chapters (63)
It’s dark now, and he is a smudge of charcoal above me, soft and shifting.
“Yes?”
“You’re alive,” Drew says softly. “And she’s alive. You can still fix it.”
But that’s the problem: Mae’s the one who knows how to fix things. I just know how to break them.
When we get to the train station, Drew slips something into my pocket.
“Ten Percs. That’s all I’m giving you. Then we deal with this the good old-fashioned way.”
“What’s that?”
Drew smiles. Doesn’t say anything. He wraps my fingers around the umbrella handle. His eyes find mine for just a moment, and I forget all about the pills and the rush of people around us and the rain and the everything. Then he backs away, into the storm. He’s instantly soaked, black hair slicked down, gray eyes bright in the streetlights.
“Wait. I have money—”
He shakes his head. “You want to get lunch tomorrow? The burger place down the street from campus is pretty good.”
“Okay.”
I surprise myself with that. Him, too. Maybe he thought I’d say no. Drew grins, a sudden flash of brightness across his face, then nods once to himself before turning away, his shoulders hunched against the rain. In a T-shirt, because he gave me his coat and umbrella.
When I get on the train, I reach into my pocket, grip the packet of pills in my fist. Ten little lifeboats.
But.
I don’t need one as much as I thought I did. Not right now. Maybe later.
Sometimes you don’t need a lifeboat. Sometimes you just need someone to lend you their umbrella.