whatever i walked away with from a sale would n't come close to blake 's wealth , but i could pay him back and have a little nest egg of my own that i could say i earned . since his escape from the fourth reality , tick had seen his birthday come and go-he was a manly fourteen years old now . let me call you back , she said , and ended the call . you deserved a better life , and i just could n't give it to you . '' 