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Neil’s ankle. “I’m crashing at Vic’s. Good to see the old gang again.” He flashes his sincerest grin, the one he usually reserves for angry parents and highway patrolmen. “Ever hear anything from Gracie?”
    Neil’s eyes bug out, as expected. Felicia searches his face, and Nate can tell that there will be questions later. He regrets he won’t be around to see how the Boy Scout lies himself out of this one.
    But Neil tries for casual. “No. Why would I? How’s Vic? I haven’t seen him at church in years.”
    Nate is impressed with Neil’s deflection. “Vic convertedto atheism. He spends his Sunday mornings worshipping his pillow.”
    Felicia laughs. She’s giving Nate her full attention now, so she doesn’t pick up on Neil’s look of annoyance. “How long will you stay in town, then, Nate?” she asks.
    “I want to be here for Neil. Dad says he has a lot of physical therapy ahead, and I’m happy to help any way I can.” Nate is really laying it on thick now, but Felicia’s buying it, even if Neil isn’t.
    “Oh, that’s so sweet!” She leans forward in her chair. “Are you in medical school or something?”
    “I’m a fitness trainer.” Nate loves the way her eyes scan his body. The moment she sees the truth in his statement is worth all his hours in the gym.
    “We could certainly use the help. I’m seriously out of shape.”
    She doesn’t look it. Probably just sore from her injuries. “Give yourself a break. No one expects you to run a marathon so soon after a car wreck. How bad was it?” he asks gently.
    “Three cracked ribs. Collapsed lung. Concussion. Bruises. They had to chop my hair off to pull me out of the wreckage.” Felicia tugs at the ends of her hair and then reaches for Neil’s hand and squeezes. “But they say I made a remarkably quick recovery and I got off easy compared to Neil. He had a torn spleen and whiplash as well as a fractured femur and tibia.”
    Neil pipes up. “If I’m lucky and all the bones set correctly,the doctors won’t have to hammer me full of metal plates.”
    Nate makes sure his voice oozes sympathy. “It’s great that you two have each other. And I’m sure Felicia will do all she can to help you get better.” He waits until Neil catches Felicia’s eye and then jots his initials on Neil’s cast. NIC . Neil jerks his leg as far as the pulley allows.
    A nurse comes in with a food tray. Time to jet. Nate takes out his wallet, extracts a dollar bill, and writes his number on it with the Sharpie. “If you need anything, here’s my cell,” Nate tells Neil. He places the bill on top of the tray. “Looking forward to getting to know you better, Felicia.”
    This time her smile is solid. Neil even cheers up, probably only because Nate’s leaving.

    When I come back to myself, I feel woozy. “I—I think I need to sit down.” My legs give out, and I sink to the ground.
    Neil jumps to my side, frantic. “Why? What did he show you?”
    I can’t do anything but stare at my sandals. Grammy said they were impractical, but I liked the way they showed off my pedicure. I always wondered if Grammy broke down when I died. I never saw her cry. I didn’t even really think she was capable of it. I couldn’t imagine it, in any case. And now there’s Nate’s memory. If it’s real, and Neil and I survived that car accident, then it puts everything into question.
    But we’re dead now, or we wouldn’t be here. Megan’s hand is on my forehead, like she’s checking my temperature. She’s asking me if I’m okay. I want to scream, I’m notokay, Megan! I don’t remember that hospital room. I don’t remember anything after the crash.
    I swipe at Megan’s hand. Shoo her away like a fly. I need to concentrate on remembering. The girl Nate saw in this memory could be me, other than the short hair, except that she acted like some fragile waif waiting to be saved by a prince. That must be how Nate sees me. I’ve never been able to see myself through