“But don’t hold out too long, either,” Kate said.
“Give him hell,” Claire added.
“But control your temper.”
The conflicting advice was too much for me to take. I hit the answer button, setting it on the table for all of us to hear, then sat there, unsure of which way to take it. “Yes?”
“Krista,” he said softly, almost reverently.
All three of us melted right there on the spot.
But I had to be smart about this. If I gave in right away, he’d only do the same to me in the future.
“I was an ass,” he said, heaving a sigh. “Look, I know I made you mad. And I know I was being horrible, but it was only because I wanted to protect you.”
I melted a little more. “I know that.”
“I really do need your help.”
Claire pressed her hand to her chest, tears forming in her eyes. Kate gave me a fist, telling me to be strong. It was the complete opposite of what they originally told me.
“I’m listening.”
He took a deep breath and launched into the whole thing. “I found Alicia, but she doesn’t want to be involved. If you still want me to keep her safe, there’s only one thing to do. We have to send you in her place.”
I sat there, completely stunned by his words, and then I let it fly. “It was too dangerous for me to come along, but now you want me to go in her place?” I screeched.
“Krista—”
“Of all the pigheaded, idiotic shit you could have said to me—all that crap about keeping me safe, and now you want to send me into the lion’s den to be eaten by wolves?”
“Wolves don’t live in a lion’s den.”
My temperature boiled and my anger spiked. “Do you really think that’s the right thing to say right now?”
“Why am I getting yelled at for pointing out facts?”
“Oh, and you were all full of facts earlier when you pointed out how dangerous this was?”
“That was?—”
“And now you need me.Youneedme.”
“You’re being difficult.”
“You’re damn right I’m being difficult,” I shouted as I jumped to my feet. “I would just like to point out how ironic this whole thing is.”
“I’m well aware.”
“And you’re an idiot.”
“I also realize that.”
“And yet you still want me to come?”
“It’s the only way. Trust me, if I could find a way to leave you out of this, I would.”
“Because I’m the little wifey who needs to stay at home?”