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“Ms. Sinclair?”

I jerked my head up. “Yes?”

“What about you? What would be the first thing you bought with ten million dollars?”

Several possibilities flashed through my mind, but they always came back to one thing. Mr. Kingston had asked us to be honest, so that’s what I would be. I clenched my hands in my lap and summoned the courage to speak the truth.

My truth.

“I’d use it to find out what happened to my dad,” I said. “He, ah, disappeared when I was little. So I’d hire private detectives and spend whatever it took to find out what happened to him. Whatever was left over, I’d give to my mom.”

“I see.” His tone was nonjudgmental, but I felt mortified and more than a little sick to my stomach. How much further would they crack us open and let us spill out in order to understand what made us tick?

But Mr. Kingston had already moved on. “Mr. Drummond, how about you? How would you spend the ten-million-dollar prize?”

Jax laughed. “That’s an easy answer. Fast cars, fast women, and a fast life.”

“I see. Is that your final answer?”

“It is, unless you clarify the question.”

Mr. Kingston raised an eyebrow. “Explain.”

“You changed up the question for me. You didn’t ask me what would be thefirstthing I spent the money on. You just asked me what I would spend it on in general.”

Mr. Kingston nodded, a flash of interest sparking in his eyes. “I stand corrected. I so revise my question to you. What would be thefirstthing you spent your money on?”

“I’d buy something for my mom.” This time around, Jax’s voice was oddly devoid of sarcasm.

“And what would that something be?” Mr. Kingston pressed.

“Seriously?” Jax looked at him incredulously. “You need to knowexactlywhat I’d buy my mom?”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Jax paused for so long I didn’t think he was going to answer. Finally, he spoke, his voice so soft I had to lean forward to hear it. “A headstone, okay? I’d buy her the biggest, most beautiful marble headstone in the entire cemetery. Satisfied?”

“Quite.” Mr. Kingston snapped his briefcase shut and stood. “Thank you, students. This concludes our session for today. I appreciate your candid answers. I’ll see you tomorrow. You’re free to go.”

He abruptly left, leaving the three of us sitting there in dazed silence, gutted and more than a little embarrassed about what we’d just revealed about ourselves. I had to close my eyes for a moment to regain my composure.

Jax was the first to leave, shoving back from the table and slamming the door on his way out.

Bo reached over and patted my hand. “You okay, Angel?”

It was a kind word from a guy I didn’t know, and I while I appreciated it, mortification swamped me. I’d been emotionally exposed in front of strangers, and the way I felt about that was too raw and uncomfortable for me to process at the moment. I nodded at Bo, unable to speak past the lump clogging my throat. Without another word, I left, leaving him sitting there alone with his thoughts.

This UTOP thing was turning out to be a lot harder than I’d expected.

Chapter Sixteen

ANGEL SINCLAIR

I had twenty minutes before I had to report to Room 111 for Psychological Testing, so I headed outside to the garden area. I had no idea what testing would entail, but I needed to regain my composure and get some fresh air to clear my head. It wasn’t a good sign that I was so shaky after the first round of testing. I wasn’t sure what I’d thought would happen, but getting so personal, so fast was shocking for an intensely private person like myself. I felt weirdly vulnerable, knowing that people were walking around judging me.

It was a lovely fall day and the sun was shining, but the air had a cool edge to it. Instead of regretting not having a sweatshirt, I welcomed the coolness. A couple of deep breaths and I felt better. I walked through the garden and headed into the maze. I hadn’t taken but a few steps when I collided with someone.

“Jax?” I said. Apparently we’d had the same idea about where to go to clear our heads.