The following afternoon, I visited my brother at the hospital after class, but Victor’s condition remained unchanged.
I always talked to him, catching him up on everything that had happened since my last visit, even if my stories weren’t exactly thrilling.
Dom had practice, so I took the bus while it was still light out to visit Anna; she was going to drive me home later that evening.
When Anna let me in, Connor just gave a quick nod and headed out.
Anna and Connor rented a tiny one-bedroom apartment.
They didn’t live far from us, but Anna and Dom hated the idea of me walking alone, especially after dark.
“Is everything okay?” I asked after the door clicked shut behind Connor.
“He said he was going to grab a drink with his buddies so he wouldn’t disturb us,” Anna replied.
“He doesn’t like me,” I remarked.
“As if you like him,” Anna laughed.
“I don’t mean it like that,” I said.
“He thinks I’m a lying fraud, too.”
“If he does, he keeps it to himself,” Anna said.
“Tell me, how’s Victor?”
“The same,” I said.
“He needs a few tests that might actually help him wake up from the coma, but I can’t scrape the money together yet, even though I’m saving every penny.”
“If we get that internship at Barnaby & Sons, you’ll have a chance,” she said.
I nodded.
“I’ve booked a consultation with my therapist,” I added.
“I want some tools to help me stop being so afraid of everything.”
I told Anna about the bookstore incident and Cas touching me at the bistro.
“Cas is a jerk,” Anna noted, “though he is pretty hot.” She laughed.
“I don’t need to open up to the world for his sake—I need to do it for mine,” I said, and she nodded.
“Then let’s start with a nice manicure and all that,” Anna said.
“I’ll book us an appointment.”
There was a small park across from Anna’s place, and since the weather was nice, we went down for a short walk.
I only ever ventured out if I wasn’t alone.
It was already starting to get dark when I wanted to head home, but Connor hadn’t returned with the car yet, so Anna couldn’t drive me.
“I’ll walk back,” I said, but Anna shook her head.
“You can’t go alone in the dark.”
“You can’t walk me either, because then you’d have to walk back alone.”
“Then come back up until Connor gets home,” Anna said.
We were headed toward their building when a junker pulled up at the curb.
“Hey,” Cas called out, and we stopped.
Cas hopped out of his car—some old, blue, beat-up thing.
“I want to apologize,” he said.
“I was rude.”
“Yes, you were,” I replied.
“But I promise we’ll leave you alone.
We won’t cling to you.”
“What are you guys doing?” he asked curiously.
“I was about to head home, but we have to wait for Anna’s boyfriend to get back because he took the car.”
“I’ll drive you,” Cas offered.
“As an apology of sorts.”
I glanced at Anna, who just shrugged and nodded.
“I don’t know,” I said hesitantly.
“You’re safe in my car,” Cas said kindly.
“I really just want to apologize.”
“Go ahead, Ginger,” Anna said.
“But call me the second you get home.” She turned to Cas.
“If she doesn’t call within the hour, I’m sending the cops after you.” Cas just laughed.
I said goodbye to Anna and got into the car next to Cas, but the engine wouldn’t turn over.
“We’ll be moving in a second,” he said with a smile.
I waited in silence.
The car just sputtered and groaned.
“I’m dumping you at the scrapyard, you piece of junk,” Cas began cursing the car.
“Please, just start,” I said softly, patting the dashboard.
The car roared to life.
“Kindness is always more effective than violence,” I said, smiling.
“I didn’t mean to scare you at the bistro yesterday,” he said as he changed lanes.
“You didn’t scare me,” I replied.
“I just don’t like it when strangers touch me.”
“Why?” he asked curiously.
“Just because,” I answered.
He laughed.
“You play the violin well,” he said.
I nodded.
“Thank you.
It’s my side job.
The pay is good, and I don’t have to run around in tiny outfits,” I replied.
“A few years ago, I had to decide which path to take long-term, and I chose finance.”
“Did you ever buy the book?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“Unfortunately, I have to save for other things right now.
Every cent counts.”
“For what?” he asked.
“My brother’s hospital treatment,” I said.
“We’re here,” I added as he turned into our street.
“Thanks for the ride,” I said.
“I promise to call Anna at the fifty-minute mark,” I teased before getting out.
He just laughed.