Page 75 of You'll Be the Death of Me

“Great,” Dell said, and climbed to stand. She brushed her palms together and gazed out at the land and seascape before her. “When we make it out of this, I should float the idea of bridge-top apartments to my brothers, because you can’t beat this view.”

The clear day had the water sparkling, the buildings shining. She could see to the horizon in every direction.

“Sure, but the commute would be killer,” Cole said, and stood up beside her.

“Not if you could teleport.” She hooked her hand into his. “Step one is find Robbie, right?”

“Right.”

“Well, with any luck, he’ll be—” Dell cut off with a surprised gasp. Even from atop the bridge, she could make out a familiar dark shape sitting on a familiar bench in the stretch of green park beside the water. “Dang, we got this kid wrong at every turn. I assumed he’d be asleep for a few more hours, not watching the sunrise from the park.”

Cole shielded his eyes from the sun and squinted. “Are you sure that’s him?”

“Only one way to find out.”

He pulled her to his side, and with a tug and a wobble, they left the bridge and landed in the park.

“Easier every time,” Dell said, and fought the wave of nausea she was almost used to.

“You’re basically a professional now,” Cole said.

“Never thought I’d need expertise in teleportation, but happy to have it,” Dell said. She began striding across the dewy lawn to where Robbie sat on his bench.

“What exactly is your plan here?” Cole asked, and hurried to keep up. “We don’t have Jason to ease the process this time.”

“Yes, I realize that, but I think we’ve done this enough times now we don’t need him. I hope.” She muttered the last part because she knew they’d be waiting hours for Jason to wake up and assist them, even if she showed up haunting his front door, and they didn’t have the time.

Her mind flitted to her body lying still and lifeless in the hospital, hooked up to monitors. She hoped her parents had gone home to sleep in the comfort of their own bed but knew they hadn’t. The whole Rodgers clan had likely set up camp in her room. She and Cole had to get to the bottom of this. Theyhadto, if not for herself, then at least for the sake of everyone who cared about her living in limbo with no answers.

Dell took a breath and calmly approached Robbie’s bench. He sat alone quietly watching the day come to life around him. He wasn’t staring at his phone or otherwise putting his attention elsewhere. He seemed fully present, and Dell wondered if he was meditating.

“Be careful,” Cole said when she sat down next to Robbie. Cole remained standing in front of the bench, a cautious bend in his brow.

“I will,” she said, and meant it honestly because she didn’t want to disrupt whatever state Robbie was in by giving him a scare.

Slowly, she scooted close to him. Even with the sun shiningin the middle of summer, she had to imagine the morning was cool, but still, Robbie’s arm broke out in goose bumps when she got close. He wore a black T-shirt and jeans, like always.

Robbie didn’t jerk or slide away. He kept sitting calmly, leaving Dell the opportunity to slide in sideways until they were joined.

After a brief moment of surprise—Dell felt him startle the slightest—Robbie let out a deep exhale like he really had been meditating. She found the inside of his head to be void of any panic or discomfort. He was simply at peace.

“Hey, Dell,” he said inside his head.

This time, Dell jerked in surprise. “Hey, you remembered my name!”

“Well, you’re pretty memorable. I didn’t expect to see you without your friend, but I could tell you were nearby. I know the feeling now.”

Dell considered. “What does it feel like?”

Robbie shrugged his shoulders. “Like what they say in movies: Hairs on the back of your neck stand up; it gets cold. You justknowthere’s a presence nearby, even if you can’t see it.”

“Interesting. I guess some writer along the way either experienced it themselves, or took a lucky guess, and it became lore.”

“Who knows. So, how much longer are you going to keep showing up like this?”

“Hopefully not much more. I need another favor.”

“I figured as much. What is it this time?”