Chapter 16

Serena slumped into the seat outside the ICU, her fingers automatically dialing that all-too-familiar number again. For the past few days, Dylan hadn’t answered her calls—or even replied to a single message. “What is it?” “Dylan! I... My mom’s in the hospital. She’s unconscious.” For a split second, Serena felt a glimmer of relief hearing his voice, but his cold tone immediately knocked the wind out of her. “Then you should be talking to a doctor, not me.” “Dylan...” What happened to him? Why did he suddenly become a complete stranger? “I want to see you,” she said in a soft voice, trying to hold it together. “I’ll see you at school later. I’m hanging up.” “Dylan... Hello? Dylan—” Beeep. Beeep. He hung up before she could even finish. She froze for a moment, then got up and headed straight for school. And the second she stood in front of the man she’d been thinking about day and night, just one small “Dylan” slipped out—and the tears wouldn’t stop. He gave her a nod, distant and polite