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Idrivethe Volvo on the way back to the city, and Rena falls asleep in the passengerseat.
The sound of a click has my gaze flicking to the rear viewmirror.
Beck’s stretching out in the back, his hand freezing on the seatbelt when he spots my attention. I stare at him as he adjusts himself to put his feetup.
Finally he fastens the seatbelt again, and I go back to the dark road in front ofme.
“I was like eight when he gave it away. The dog, Imean.”
Beck’s low voice is just audible over the subtle road noise from outside thecar.
“Whathappened?”
“I don’t know the details. But I remember Dad was giving Rena a hard time about her grades. One day, she came home from school after I did. I didn’t notice the dog was gone, but she did. She fucking loved thatdog.”
I draw a long breath, keeping my eyes on the road because I’m not sure what Beck’ll see on my face if I meet his gaze rightnow.
“He’s a piece of work, Wes. Yours might be gone, but at least he was good while he washere.”
23
Wes
It’sbusy at the gym today, a bustling stream of people moving through. Maybe a rush of outdoor exercisers heading in as the weather getsbrisk.
Jake lunges across from me in the ring, grunting, and Iduck.
I size up an opening and throw a right hook that lands on his shoulder but grazesoff.
“Ben said you had a good conversation about your DNA app,” Jake says. How he’s not as out of breath as I am I have noidea.
I think back to the call. I’d leaned on the notes from Rena, woven them into the technical details that needed to be expressed for Ben to understand theproject.
“He was interested—but in working together in partnership, not in buying itoutright.”
“He doesn’t offer that kind of thing lightly. You must have impressed him with your pitch. Rena’s rubbing off onyou.”
I brace a hand on the ropes, catching my breath. I blink against thesweat.
“You okay, Wesley? Don’t tell me you’re regretting that I set youup.”
Poor choice ofwords.
“I’mgrateful.”
The bell dings, and we drop out of the ring. An attendant helps Jake with his gloves, and I space out, my body struggling to regain its equilibrium now that I’m back on levelground.
“Are you? You haven’t talked about her lately. Which means either you’re avoiding her, or you’re not avoiding her but you’re so infatuated you won’t tell anyone aboutit.”
I pull off my headgear and towel-dry my sweaty hair. “It’snothing.”
“I’ve only known you since your father got sick but the last few weeks you’re alive again. A different person. What you and Rena do is your business. But from the outside, it doesn’t look likenothing.”
Before I can respond, a familiar voice has me looking across thegym.
“Dr. Crawford,” I say when I spot Rena’sfather.
“Wesley.”
