I crouch beside Valentino, gazing into his reddened blue eyes. “What you want to do for me is so beyond beautiful that I’m already indebted to you, even if nothing happens. But I’m not going to live the life you want for me if it means you not living yours out while you can.”

Dalma is staring daggers. “Orion, can we talk outside?”

“Happily,” I say sharply.

I squeeze Valentino’s shoulder on the way out, closing the door behind me.

Dalma clasps her hands together, like she’s in prayer. “Please let this boy save your life.”

“Please stop encouraging him to drop dead fast.”

“You’re setting yourself and Valentino up for failure. Be logical. If Valentino can basically die in his sleep, isn’t that so much more merciful than whatever horrific tragedy awaits him otherwise?”

The longer Valentino lives, the closer he’s pushed to his death. I get that. But I can’t make peace with deciding when he clocks out. “This has to be his call, Dalma.”

“I’m sure he’ll be open to your input. It’s your heart now.”

“Nope, it’s still his heart.”

“It won’t be anyone’s heart if he dies.”

“Then it’s not meant to be.”

This little fairy tale might have an unhappy ending.

If only Death-Cast could tell us how someone was going to die so we could try to dodge it, or even what time it was going to happen so we know how many hours—or minutes—we’re working with here. The stakes are too high.

“Death-Cast already opened this one door for me. Maybe it’ll open another if Valentino’s gets slammed in my face.”

Dalma is tearing up. “I’m starting to think you don’t want this surgery.”

“You know I do.”

“Then what is it? Why aren’t you going to bat for yourself as hard as I am?”

I’m quiet, then: “When we met Valentino, I already couldn’t stop thinking about how much I want to get to know him. Hanging out at his place, inviting him to ours. Being his tour guide through the city. I just want to get to know him while I can, especially before I carry his heart for the rest of my life.”

There’s nothing like speaking your truths out loud. I swear by that.

It’s sinking in with Dalma, who sighs. “So what do we do? I’m all good with keeping him company, but we’ve got to bubble wrap him or something. And make sure he doesn’t do anything too crazy.”

I take a second, not wanting to start a fight right as we’ve chilled down. But in my stupid, busted, murderous heart, I know I’m in the right with this. “I think I got to chill with Valentino alone.”

Her eyes narrow. “What?”