Chapter 23

A double meal combo, greasy and heavy with fast food, was the kind of thing that completely killed Ethan’ appetite. Back when they were broke students from working-class families with no income, yeah—it used to feel like some fancy treat. But not anymore. It's been five years, and the price hasn’t climbed much. Still, Ethan couldn’t find even a hint of that pure satisfaction Sophie once had, on any of the faces around him. Except Emma. "You seriously think this stuff tastes good?" "Yeah... I mean, back then I couldn’t even eat things like this," Emma said, awkwardly trying to break the stringy cheese stretching from her lips. When she looked up and caught Ethan giving her that borderline shocked look, she turned away sheepishly. Heavy seasoning and greasy sauces were tough on the heart, and ever since she was fifteen, Emma had pretty much said goodbye to the joy of eating out. "You actually have a heart condition?" Ethan thought hard—he remembered the two times they’d gotten close, and