Out of Time (Face the Music Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

fire. His calves soon joined the party.
    If he stopped for a stretch, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to get going again.
    So he pushed on, only stopping when he reach the park near the hospice, where he threw up before stretching and having a drink and laying on the grass like he was dying.
    He was never going to be able to walk again … his head would explode before that became a problem.
    He should’ve admitted he wasn’t fit enough for this about five kilometres ago.
    Half measures were for sensible people who had things to risk.
    His stomach heaved again but he sipped the water and stayed immobile on the grass until he felt slightly better. Some women walked through the park, pushing prams and talking. A dog ran over to sniff him.
    The owner peered at him. ‘Are you all right?’
    Mike glanced at the older man. ‘Yeah. Just pushed too hard.’ His bike was on the ground next to him, and he was going to make himself ride home too.
    ‘The joy of youth.’ He called his dog and walked away.
    Mike forced himself to sit up. His shirt clung to his back with sweat, and while he knew his mother wouldn’t care—she’d probably be glad to see him riding again—he felt grotty. He should’ve gone surfing with Ed … but he didn’t want to talk about music or his mother or anything. When he rode he was on his own.
    A tiny part of him knew he was pushing people away but he didn’t know where to start, or what to say, and it was just one more thing he didn’t know how to deal with. Last time it had been about the fight and survival, people had rallied around him and his mother. This felt different.
    It was different.
    He stood up, pulled off his shirt and gave himself a wipe, sprayed on deodorant so he didn’t smell like an armpit then slipped on his clean shirt. He put his helmet back on because it would be just his luck to get a fine in the hundred metres he had to travel. And even though his legs protested, he rode up to the hospice and chained his bike up. He had no idea how he was going to get home … just thinking about it hurt.
    He ran his fingers through his hair even though he knew it was a lost cause, clipped his helmet to his bag, and went in.
    The building was so quiet he had to double-check it was visiting hours. It was, and he walked to his mother’s room. She was lying down, eyes closed as she listened to an audio book. He stood there, not sure if she was sleeping or awake.
    She didn’t move and he couldn’t wake her.
    The young Indian nurse glanced at him as she walked past, then stopped. She peered into the room then took his arm. ‘The doctor changed her pain medication. It’s making her sleepy.’
    ‘Pain?’
    He couldn’t remember the nurse’s name so he scanned her name tag. Ava. He tried really hard not to think about the first thoughts he’d had about her. She’d be horrified.
    ‘For the headaches.’ Ava explained, but her tone suggested that she should be aware of all of this.
    Headaches, right. She’d been taking something but he hadn’t realised it was that bad. ‘Can I go in?’
    ‘Sure, she’s just drowsy as she gets used to it. There’s always a trade-off.’
    Mike stood there, not sure what to do. Ava’s gaze skimmed over him. ‘Do you ride?’
    He nodded.
    ‘Me too. Not as often as I should.’
    He wasn’t about to admit to nearly killing himself on the way over.
    ‘Why don’t you grab a coffee or something from the cafeteria, okay? I’m sure your mum will be up soon.’ She smiled.
    Mike made his lips move into something close to a smile. She was being nice. The edge she’d had the first time had melted away.
    He went to the cafeteria and paid for coffee and a bacon and egg burger, which he knew he was going to regret before he got home. Wherever home was. If he rode to his mother’s house he should make it, but his car was at the flat.
    It was too much of a decision to make.

Chapter 4
    Ava went to the cafeteria on her break. Mike was still sitting there. He was