16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler

one knew anything.” She pauses for a teeny second to breathe.
    â€œEverything’s fine,” I tell her to cut her babbling short. “And Adam’s not mad.”
    The look on his face makes me laugh out loud—like he’s constipated or something. It’s obvious he’s trying not to get angry, and for that I give him silent props. I feel closer to him than I’ve felt to anyone in a while. He was so great handling the emergency with my mom.
    Adam glances at his watch. “You should probably go start your shift. I have to get back to the office. Theresa’s going to kill me.”
    â€œI know.” Amy waves and wanders back toward the snack shop.
    â€œWow,” Adam says. “I think she just broke up with me.”
    I laugh. “Sorry to interfere. I couldn’t resist.”
    â€œYeah. Way to undermine my authority.” He laughs though. He doesn’t sound so uptight anymore. I’m grateful to Amy for spinning in and lightening the moment with her whirlwind of energy.
    â€œShe’s harmless,” I say.
    â€œA little. But it might be better if she came with a mute button.” He glances at his watch again and rolls his shoulders back. “Okay. I really should get to the office.” His cheeks turn slightly pink. “I wanted to make sure, you know, your mom is okay.” He glances around the gift shop, avoiding my eyes.
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œAnd to let you know I’m stalking you on Twitter.”
    My turn for my cheeks to warm up. And then he grins and walks out, whistling to himself. It’s very off-key. And it’s a Taylor Swift song. I grin, but the notes disappear as the sounds of the amusement park opening up for the day swallow them up.
    I’m tempted to check my Twitter feed, but I feel like I owe it to Adam not to since I’m technically now on duty. I replay our conversation in my head, and that’s enough to get me past the urge.
    ***
    A steady flow of customers keeps me busy for the next hour, and when there’s a lull, I take a moment to sit on the stool behind the cash register to catch my breath. When I look up at a ruckus by the door, Adam is rushing inside and Theresa is with him.
    I jump off the stool. Judging by the looks on their faces, I’m in trouble. “I just finished ringing through a bunch of customers. I’m going to fill up the gum machine in a sec,” I say.
    â€œYour brother called the office,” Adam says, cutting me off. “Jake. There was a cancellation at the hospital and they’re doing your mom’s angiogram in an hour and a half. Your brother wants you to get right there.”
    Theresa is already behind the counter, and she pats my arm as she slides past me. “Go on,” she says.
    I don’t move. I blink, trying to concentrate. I don’t have a car. The bus will take at least an hour to get back to town and then I’ll have to transfer to the hospital. I don’t know what to do.
    â€œCome on,” Adam says. He’s standing on the other side of the counter. “I’m taking you. Theresa’s lending me her car.”
    My hands start to shake. Theresa puts her hand on my back and gently pushes me toward the exit. A customer walks in the store then, an old woman wearing a layered dress and an orange cardigan. Adam grabs my hand as I come around the counter and pulls me along, out of the gift shop.
    â€œI’ll get you there as fast as I can. You got this, Morgan. You can handle it.”

chapter five
    The elevator door opens and I stride through the now-familiar hospital corridor toward my mom’s room. Josh is standing outside in the hallway, stroking his mustache between two fingers.
    â€œYou made it here fast,” he says.
    â€œAdam broke some speed limits.”
    â€œIs he here?” The ways Josh says it, he almost sounds hopeful, as if he wants Adam to explain things or take control.
    â€œNo, he was