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Josiah’s head bounces up like a Jack-in-the-box. “I want cookies and cream.”
“You’re not supposed to have dairy with your medication,” I remind Cullen. “Isn’t that what Sara said this morning?”
“I’ll have a fruit smoothie then,” he says.
I don’t have an argument for that.
We pile into the car and Cullen drives us to the mall. It’s a short ride, but the air between us is so tense that it feels like we’re driving for hours.
At the ice cream store, Josiah and Cullen walk to the glass counter. My brother orders two scoops of ice cream for himself and I order a liter for mom.
“What about you?” Cullen asks, taking out his card.
“I’m not in the mood for ice cream,” I grumble.
“We should celebrate your wrist being healed,” he coaxes. “Don’t you want anything?”
I shake my head, still upset by what happened in the hospital. I’m aware I made a fool of myself, but what frightens me even more is that I would do it again. Had I pushed a little more, would Cullen have given in and seen a doctor? Did I just miss an opportunity to save him?
The server hands over Josiah’s ice cream and the tub for mom. We find a bench and Josiah flies past me to claim the seat next to Cullen.
“I’ve been thinking about the mainframe’s infrastructure, and I was working on this new program,” Josiah says, showing Cullen his phone.
“Wow. You coded that by yourself?” Cullen sounds impressed. “This sequence wasn’t in the data you sent me yesterday.”
I watch the two of them, noticing how my brother adores Cullen.
My fingers curl into fists.
Cullen glances up and sees my expression. He reaches out to hold my hand, but I pull back. Standing abruptly, I murmur, “I’m going to ask if they can keep mom’s tub in their freezer until we’re ready to leave.”
I feel Cullen’s silver eyes follow me, but I don’t look back.
The coolness of the ice cream container seeps into my hand. I press my palm further into the container, welcoming the frosty discomfort.
What is wrong with me? Get your emotions together, Nardi.
After making my request at the counter, I leave the tub with the teenaged server and swing back to the booth.
As I near Josiah and Cullen, their hushed conversation makes me slow my steps.
“This is an incredible idea, Josiah. Truly. But I’m afraid we don’t have the technology yet to replicate data at the level your program will need,” Cullen says.
“But we will someday. And I was thinking, after I graduate college, I could work with you at Cullen Tech and we can create that program together.”
I stop short.
My heart slams against my ribs.
All I can see from here is Cullen’s back as his muscles tense. “Josiah… I might not be here to see you graduate from college. But I know you can do it. I’ll do everything in my power to makesure you have everything you need to make programs just like that one in the future.”
“What do you mean? Where are you going?” my brother asks innocently.
My breath hitches.
Cullen’s voice drops to a hoarse tone. “I… uh…”
Is he going to tell my brother that he’s dying? He can’t. That’llcrushJosiah.