The attached card: “I was wrong. Forgive me?” Ross freaks when I leave him by himself in the store for the first time, but I duck into the cold case to call Erik. “I really thought I was doing something good by taking you to Oxana,” he says. “I could have handled everything better. Can we talk tonight?” I hesitate. I’m terrified that he’ll take one look in my eyes and know everything that happened at the Darkroom. How I helped lure the trogs into an ambush. How I kicked Kenny. How I enjoyed it. How I reacted to Sable’s touch. But I’m the King of Evasions. By royal decree, Erik will never find out. “Absolutely,” I say, “I’m dying to see you.” It feels good to admit that. Despite tinges of doubt, this is the longest conversation we’ve had in days and it puts me at ease. “And I’m sorry too. I freaked out and I snapped and … Let’s talk about it tonight.” We make plans to meet at the hospital after his shift. By the end of our conversation, things feel familiar and easy again.
