CHAPTER 20 —

The hospital vending machine made a sad, metallic clink and spat out change like an apologetic ex. Nicole hugged a paper cup of bad coffee to her hands and watched the steam fog the window into a tiny private country where the skyline hesitated a second too long before answering the light. She liked that the city could be late — made her feel like the world wasn’t always on top of her. It was a small mercy.

Camille had iced slices of apple on a plate and a newspaper ...