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She was slow to answer “Yes That’s e’re talking about, Angel Donor organs come from a body that has been declared brain-dead”

He shivered at the thought So his organs “Well, no, thanks”

She stared at hi Then, finally, she shrugged “Die, then”

It shocked hiry, then fear crept in, leaving a sour taste in his mouth “So compassionate, Dr Hillyard”

“Look, Angel, I can’t waste ti compassion for a person with a death wish You smoke, you drink, and there were traces of marijuana in your urine All of this after two heart attacks” She leaned toward hi to die—and pretty soon if you don’t make some very hard choices”

“You think I deserve it”

She drew back For a heartbeat, she looked at hih the eyes he remembered “I’d say you think you deserve it, and I think …”

“What?”

“I have no right to say anything I don’t know you at all, do I?”

“You did once”

“No” She said the word softly, but it seeht I did once … but the boy I fell in love with prohed—a hard, brittle sound that was nothing like the laughter he remembered “Forever turned out to be about ten seconds”

“I guess that’s ize”

She frowned “I don’t want your apology, Angel I stopped wanting anything froo Now I’m just your doctor, and as such, I want you to live, butas valuable as a heart on a bad-boy loser who isn’t going to change his life”

“You’ve learned to play hardball, Mad”

“This is a hardball gael No cut corners, no fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants You’re going to have to decide how badly you want to live Only you can answer that”