I laughed. "When did you become such conspirator?"

He raised a finger. "It's only a conspiracy theory if it's built on myth."

"Okay. I'll try not to let our reptilian-hologram-eyed-government officials know my girlfriend can't feel pain."

"How the fuck do you know about the reptile theories?"

"I spend a lot of overnights working in the hospital with only wannabe Youtube journalist as my company between emergencies."

He sucked his teeth. "That is the saddest fuckin' thing I've ever heard." We laughed for a moment but then he turned serious. "How's my girl?"

"To be honest I haven't seen her much. Third year went right into fourth and I've spent whatever time I had off with Everly. We had coffee the other night, she seemed okay I guess."

"Good, good. Well listen I'll be home more, so don't worry about it."

"They finally figured out your plan to trump the tyrannical state our country is suffering?"

He half-smiled, half-frowned. "I've been relieved of my duty, yeah."

"Why? All jokes aside. Why?"

"You know what they say-there's a lot of truth in humor." His boots shuffled against the wood floor. "Freedom of speech isn't what it used to be. Everything is so damn political now. Ahh . . . fuck it," he played it off, "I can protect my family better on our soil."

"Tatum know?"

"I'm gonna talk to her tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be glad even though she'll go on a rant about how unfair it all is."

"Sorry man."

He smiled then. "Hey, at least if the reptilian government comes for your Everly we'll be ready to roll, son."

"I've actually got a plan in place already for freeing Everly from tyranny . . . but I certainly wouldn't mind back up."

I gave the rope a pull and then the ladder. "Ladies first."

Everly slipped her shoes off and then climbed the stairs with me behind her. She wasn't expecting what she found, her eyes blinked in surprise as she looked around the attic that was anything but just a simple attic. If it had a better staircase it could have been considered a third floor. All of the costumes from Julep's collection still hung along the rail on the furthest wall back. Her dressing station was just as I remembered; those big bulbs around the mirror married to a long ivory vanity. A plush gold chaise sat atop soft white carpet. And then there were the things I added for Everly. Blankets, pillows, television, DVD player, laptop, mini fridge.

"What is all this?" she asked.

"First, you need to change into warm, dry clothes." I handed her a pair of cotton pajamas from a dresser I had arranged. "Everything in there is yours, but you'll need to change back into your usual stuff before Timothy sees you." I pointed to the divider my mom used to use as a dressing room. "You can change behind there."

As she put the pajamas on she asked, "What are we doing up here, Callum?"

I waited for her to finish before I replied. Everly sat with me on the ledge by a small, single window. "You're gonna stay here tonight."

"If you don't show up for work this is the first place Timothy is going to look for me."

"I'm going to work," I agreed, "but you're staying here tonight. And . . . if you're serious about reclaiming your freedom . . . every night until graduation."

"I don't understand."

"I know you thought we were just pranking Tatum tonight with the Georgia bit, but the truth Everly is that I think we should really move there."

"How? I can't go anywhere. You know that."

And I told her, "I have a savings account with nearly a million dollars . . . it might sound like a good amount, but in New York it wouldn't get us very far. But in Georgia we could buy a house. Plus ..."

I stroked her hair, and with a deep breath I finished. "Everyone keeps telling me that I'm on course to ruin my life if we stay together. It was easy to shrug off at first, Everly Anne, but the truth is they're right. When I graduate there's no way I'll be given permanent residency to wherever I apply in New York as long as I'm a threat to Timothy, and my only threat is being with you. Either way I'm going to be forced to apply outside of New York for a job. My father still has a good relationship with the head of Atlanta Memorial. I could get a job there after I graduate . . . but Everly . . . I have to graduate."

Her face faded. "And I'm in the way of that."

I cupped her chin. "I'm not breaking up with you, I just need to change who has the upper hand. The only way I can do that is if I earn my doctorate. There's no judge on this planet who will side with some med student who has good intentions as a plan. We both need to put the pieces in place to make this work. I need to be able to take care of you in every way. And you'll need to know what it's like to be on your own, because Everly, that's what we're going to ask a judge to grant us."

I stroked her hair. "I'm gonna go to work at the hospital and confront Logan, beg him not to show you the pictures on his phone. I'll make sure your father sees, and that'll force his hand. There's no way Timothy will let me talk to you before Logan, so he'll make him show you the pictures tonight. In your father's mind Logan will be the last person you were with. That'll put Timothy's attention on him and not me."