CHAPTER SIX #2
‘Stay in bed for a few days?’ My gaze snagged on yesterday’s bloodied tuxedo, now lying in a heap just beyond my closet door – the dress jacket Nova had used for a pillow. Nova. I wanted to ask her, face to face, how she was healing. And honestly, I just wanted any excuse to see her again.
‘I can’t stay in bed today.’ I sat up, dodging Gemma’s attempt to push me back down. ‘I have errands to run. Obligations to tend to.’
I had a promise to keep – one hot-pink seven-speed to be hand-delivered.
‘I know how you feel about me and respecting obligations.’ I locked eyes with Jacinta, repeating one of her favorite excuses for why she needed me to appear at every family photo op.
She crossed her arms.
‘Look, if I don’t go out, people are going to start asking questions. Especially during surf season. You and Grandfather just agreed this has to be kept quiet. I need to show face so people don’t get suspicious. I’m already feeling better from the hydromorphone.’
‘What’s keeping you from lighting up like a glow stick outside?’ Gemma pointed out.
‘First off, that was rude,’ I said, surprisingly offended, though I shrugged it off.
‘And second, you’re forgetting about tinted SPF.
You told me your ex used it for a week while waiting for his Pain Carrier match.
Then you dumped him because he started asking for discounts on pain pills after his transfer.
’ I tapped my ear. ‘See, I listen when you vent.’
‘True, true,’ said Gemma, annoyed.
Jacinta sucked her teeth. ‘Fine. Just be careful. Castor Jace, the moment you feel more than a pinch of pain –’
‘I’ll run back into your loving arms.’
She scowled but still kissed my forehead. Gemma did the same, and they both left, closing my door behind them. I flopped back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. Barely a minute had passed before someone else knocked.
I was ready to argue with whoever walked in, but the wise face belonged to someone I’d never raise my voice to. Perla tucked a strand of graying hair behind her ear and nodded toward the hamper under her arm. ‘You’ll need clean drawers for those errands.’
I waved her in. Perla had practically raised me, starting as an au pair and now overseeing everyone who worked on the estate, from the housekeepers to the gardeners. She didn’t have to do my laundry, so I assumed she was here for a reason.
‘I heard the news,’ she said, walking over to my closet.
I eased myself off the bed and followed her. ‘Does the entire house know?’
‘Nurse Jorge panicked a little.’ She smiled softly, then rolled up one of her long sleeves. A subtle flash of blue moved beneath her warm complexion.
‘Oh. Oh! Wait, when did you …’ I gawked, confused. I’d seen her almost every day of my life and never noticed a glimpse of blue. ‘I don’t understand. How long have you had it? Why didn’t you say anything?’
‘I’ve had it since before you were born.’
I shook my head. ‘How is that possible? And why? You don’t need to be a Carrier. Are we not …’ I gulped and lowered my voice. ‘Are we not paying you enough? I’ll go to Grandfather right now. You don’t have to be a Carrier.’
She tugged her sleeve down and patted my cheek. ‘Not all Carriers are by choice, though my father and sister are part of the Freedom System. I have it naturally.’
I shook my head in disbelief. I’d never once seen her in pain. She’d never flinched or scrunched her face, never complained. ‘So why not give it up?’
‘That costs money,’ she said, putting away my clothes.
‘I thought insurance covered the helical transference. If not, I know Grandfather would help if you asked. You used to change my diapers. You’re practically part of our family.’
Perla stopped, glanced at me, and pulled a thin dark shirt from the far end of my walk-in closet.
‘I know it’s still technically summer, but you’ll want to keep as much of your body covered as you can.
Dark colors are harder to see through. And wear a hat.
Hellflares are unpredictable, but the sun aggravates the pain. ’
I noted her avoidance of the question and didn’t push it. I took the shirt from her. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t know. I should’ve paid more attention.’
Perla grabbed my favorite hat and placed it on my head. ‘You weren’t supposed to.’
She left me there, and for a while I didn’t move.
I’d seen Pain Carriers before but hadn’t realized I knew any.
Discovering Perla lived with the disease as a natural carrier – she made it look so easy, effortless.
The medicine had settled in my veins and the blue flashes were now a dull pain.
It wouldn’t stay that way, though. I hadn’t had the disease for more than twenty-four hours, but I already understood how addiction could take hold of those without a high pain tolerance.
I found myself counting down to my next dose.
I had to be stronger than that, if only to make it through today and keep my promise.
I showered, keeping the water cool. When I stepped out, three different shades of tinted SPF 800 were lined up on my desk next to a small notecard signed – P.
I stared at them for a moment, surprised.
I didn’t know how Perla had found them so quickly and hoped she hadn’t paid out of pocket.
It was easily a thousand dollars per ounce.
I settled on number twelve – medium with warm golden undertones.
In the garage, I passed the empty spot my campervan usually occupied.
It was still in the repair shop, and if Jacinta had her way, it would stay there for a long time.
The AMG One she’d gifted for my birthday waited nearby, but I’d never fit a seven-speed bike inside a coupe.
That left me with Gemma’s solisLynx X. I sent her a quick text: borrowing the SLX.
When I arrived at the Outdoors+Rec outlet, it didn’t take long to find what I was looking for.
The sales associate walked me through every electric and solar bike they had, explaining features that went in one ear and out the other.
I knew it the moment I saw it, though. It had a retro feel – the kind of bike girls ride down the boardwalk without a care in the world.
It felt like the kind of bike Nova deserved: seven speeds, white tires, a white seat and, most importantly, hot pink.