Chapter 505

• A strange sense of disbelief washes over me, some inner voice trying to get me to calm down. I don’t think I’m awake. If I stay still, then I almost feel like I’m dreaming. I can try not to think about what she’s just said as the cold fear washes over me, over and over, like an all-consuming black hole. I’m sure doctors get it wrong all the time.
• Even the $10,000 a pop variety that Jake employs?
• “Emma?” Jake’s gravelly tone cuts into my thoughts, his grip on my hand has almost fallen away, and now he’s looking at me with an odd expression, a faraway spooky look in his eyes. He breaks into a slow, steady smile as though realization has crept up from somewhere low down, and he jerks forward in a flash, kissing me on the mouth ungracefully, hauling me into his arms for a hug. His reaction completely shakes me, the wind is knocked out of me, and I’m still reeling from this new development. Jake’s face radiates sheer joy, from zombie to hyperactive crazy man in one swift move, and it only makes me want to throat punch him even more right now.