Jason steadied Colby and himself as best he could. His heart hadn’t calmed down yet. Slamming into his ribs—seeing Colby come running through a doorway, eyes wide, breath quick—hearing Colby ask for help—
But Colby’s eyes were bright. Energized, eager, holiday-morning blue. Not afraid. And Colby’s hand on his arm was exuberant, not frightened.
He registered the script pages in Colby’s other hand. He searched Colby’s face.
“—I’ve saved them, you see,” Colby was saying, voice tripping all over itself in excitement, accent rippling and delighted. “I’ve worked it out, how to find the happy ending, and I’m very sorry you’ll have to lose an arm, but that won’t be too dreadful, we’ll sort it out, and then Stephen can come home and they can both sail away together, but if I’m going to change an
