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when he recognizes me. “What are you doing here?”
    I wasn’t expecting a hero’s parade, but still. “I just wanted to visit.”
    “Why, so you can finish me off?”
    “I barely tapped you.”
    “It’s your fault I’m here. So just stay away from me.”
    I take one step back, change my mind, and stop. “That’s just rude.”
    “No, rude is dropping by when someone has a ‘no visitors request. It was meant for you.”
    “You don’t even know me.”
    “I know enough.”
    There’s nothing to know. Except for this one incident, there is nothing noteworthy about me. Unless our parents have some feud going on, in which case it’s unfair to tar me with the same brush. “You shouldn’t judge someone you’ve never met. Especially when she just saved your life.”
    He glares at me. “You knocked me out.”
    “It was a plastic net, not a harpoon,” I say. “I tapped you by accident, and then I saved you.”
    “I didn’t need saving,” he says.
    “Face down plus not breathing equals dead. Cue the lifeguard.”
    “I was happily doing my laps until I got whacked.” He stares at the ring around my mouth. “Is that a blister?”
    “Whatever it is, I got it saving your life,” I say. “Any diseases I should know about?”
    His face gets even paler, if that’s possible. “You’re the disease. And you’ve infected Rosewood.”
    I feel a hot flash starting and try to force it back down with deep breaths. I don’t want to give Kai the satisfaction of seeing me like that. “All this because you can’t swim?” I say.
    He throws back the covers and swings his bare legs over the side of the bed. Luckily the IV pole is on the far side of the bed and he’s stuck there. “Get out.”
    Behind me, someone says “Kai.” The woman has his curly hair and blue eyes. She’s pretty, but worn looking. “Is that any way to behave with a guest?”
    “Mom, this is the girl who tried to kill me,” he says.
    He has no idea. I tried not to kill him, or at least leave him to die. “I’ve got a great idea,” I say. “How about the next time you drown you do it in someone else’s pool? See if they can work as fast as I did.”
    He drops back on the pillow and stares at the ceiling.
    I take a few steps closer to the bed and stand over him so he’ll be forced to look at me. “You’re welcome for saving your life.”
    One of the monitors starts beeping and I hear quick footsteps in the hall.
    Kai’s mom takes my sleeve and leads me away. I turn to see him wiping away sweat that’s rolling down his face.
    “Why is he so mean?” I ask, flustered. “I don’t get it.”
    “I’m sorry… Phoenix Forsythe, right?” Kai’s mom says. “I know what happened was an accident and I’m glad you reacted so quickly.” She squeezes my arm. “I can’t thank you enough.”
    I look down, embarrassed now. “I’m sorry I hit him. And I don’t understand what happened, because he’s an excellent swimmer.”
    “That’s why his pride’s in rough shape right now,” she says, smiling.
    She turns to go back and I call after her, “Is he going to be okay?”
    “He’s being discharged today, after they run more tests.”
    “I didn’t mean to upset him. I just wanted to be nice.”
    Waving, she turns into Kai’s room.
    I did want to be nice. Unfortunately, I was a complete and utter failure at it.
     

 
     
     
     
    “ F orget about that jerk,” Regan says. “You know what’ll take your mind off it?”
    “Ice cream?” I say, since she’s paused under the ornate sign outside the Jubilee Ice Palace. “Agreed.” Despite what just happened, I’m hungry, so I push open the door and call, “Hey Paloma.”
    A short woman with black hair and olive skin is behind a counter lined with huge jars of candy. “Sweetie, how are you?” she says. Paloma calls everyone “sweetie,” but it feels genuine. Even though I only spent a couple of weeks here a year, she’s always remembered me—and my order. Piling two