page146 (1/2)

She took a breath but didn’t say anything, just worked her bottoht cry

Please, God, don’t let her cry

“But the bottoht now I’ve put so o all in with the gaot so ure out you and a I’ve been working for, and it’s happening right now And I can’t handle anything besides that I’m sorry”

She nodded, her breath shaky I could see she was definitely about to cry, and I wanted to scoop her into my arms and hold her, tell her I wanted her and needed her But what I’d said was true Penny was a white-hot fla her would ruin me

“I’ain with a smile meant to be brave

That smile broke my heart into a thousand pieces, scattered on the floor with the broken glass of the penny jar

She took a breath with shining eyes and said, “Hit e”

And I nodded and watched her walk away

I hurried away fro as I rushed down the stairs and outside, dragging in a breath so heavy with hu

It was over

It was over, and it was my fault

I wrapped my arms around my ribs and walked with no destination in et as far away from my problems as huht to Tokyo Or Budapest Or Mars

The exchange had been everything I’d feared, except soination had been able to conjure The look on his face, the resigned tone, the sadness in his eyes when he let ently

But there was no a coround

The lump in my throat was sticky and hard, and I sed it down painfully only for it to bob back up

Over, over, over The word echoed with every footstep