---- Chapter 9 Whatever Tyler's intentions were, I no longer wanted to think about them. I had nothing left to lose. In these final two weeks before I left the country, all I wanted was a little peace and quiet. "Then stay put this time and recover properly. No more running around." He looked like he wanted to say more but, bound by his pride, couldn't bring himself to go on. After a moment's pause, he offered a stiff line of advice and turned to leave the hospital room. The moment he stepped out, I did the same-just in the opposite direction. I've never been the obedient patient type. There were more important things I had to take care of. By the time I arrived in the old part of town, night was just beginning to settle in. ---- Since the accident with my parents, I hadn't come back here once. Pushing open the rusted security door, I was hit by a wave of stale air, heavy with the scent of dust and time. I waved a hand in front of my face and got to work. Halfway through, a message came through from an unfamiliar number. It was a video. Init, Charles had his arms wrapped around a curvy woman, whispering things into her ear with a smile I knew far too well. For a moment, I froze. That face still had the power to throw me off balance. The video was loud with music, but the conversation managed to cut through. "Charles, you think Mindy's really mad this time? Think she's done for good?" ---- "Bullshit. I'll bet you anything-she'll be crawling back in less than three days." "Hahaha, yeah, true. A girl like her-if she hada shred of dignity, she wouldn't have stuck around for seven damn years. Couldn't curse her away, couldn't scare her off. Let's make a bet-how many days before she comes back? A million each. No backing out." I didn't watch the rest. I deleted it without another thought. Then I turned back to my packing. When Rhyn showed up with a bag full of food, I was crouched out on the balcony, staring at two flowerpots. The soil in them had long since turned gray, the plants inside nothing but brittle skeletons. I looked up and caught her eyes. For a second, we both hesitated. It was a little awkward, seeing ---- each other again after the screaming match we'd been in that morning, playing out on opposite ends of the same storm. Rhyn pursed her lips. "Mindy, you're paying extra this time. My chest still hurts like hell." I laughed. "Sure. Double." She shrugged, letting it go. It didn't seem worth arguing over.