Chapter 1

1

Rain was coming down in sheets when I rushed Jessica's pain meds to her.

I could hear her and her friend, Ashley, talking before I even knocked.

"Jess, you're such a drama queen. You've been faking being in that chair for five years, right?"

"And poor Peter is such a sap. Five years he's been waiting on you hand and foot and still doesn't realize your legs are perfectly fine."

"How many times has he braved the storm to bring you medicine? I can't keep count anymore."

Jessica's voice was icy.

"Ninety-eight. What, you got a thing for him?"

Ashley was quiet for a beat.

"No way! It's just... he's basically your little brother, you practically raised him. Don't you feel bad?"

"If he hadn't pretended to be sick the day Mark left, I could've talked to him."

"This is his punishment. Ninety-nine times, and then the game's over."

Outside the door, I gripped the pain pills so hard my knuckles turned white, my heart just broke.

I thought Jessica kept me around because she cared about me.

But she's just making me pay because I got sick and missed my chance with Mark.

Fine. You took me in for five years, I'll give you five back.

After 99, we'll be even and never see each other again.

...

I waited in the hotel lobby until I'd calmed down, then headed back to the private room.

A knock, then a flurry of activity inside.

Everyone's smiles vanished when I walked in.

"Peter, where've you been? Jess is in agony, sweating like crazy."

"If you don't wanna take care of her, just say so. If you hadn't begged to be her caretaker, her legs might be fine by now."

Ashley, always had something to say, I ignored her and went to Jessica.

She looked awful, like she was in real pain, forehead covered in sweat.

But I could smell liquor on her.

This whole thing has been a charade. And for five years, I never saw it.

"Quit standing around, get her the pills," Ashley sneered, grabbing my wrist and shoving me.

I stumbled, reopening a cut I'd gotten when I tripped hurrying here.

But the pain in my knee was nothing compared to what was in my heart.

Jessica, you're a great actress.

Putting on this whole act, faking being disabled for five years just to punish me.

"Ashley, stop it!"

Jessica steered her wheelchair to me, struggling to help me up.

"Peter, I'm sorry, Ashley didn't mean it, she's just worried about me."

I forced a smile, refusing her hand.

"I know, it just took me longer than expected."