“Me too,” Python adds.
“Agreed,” Journey states.
“Okay, I get it,” Crow says with a chuckle. “All in favor of option two, thump twice.”
Each of us pounds the table two times in quick succession. For the rest of the afternoon, we strategize. It won’t be hard to locate another of Cruz’s dealers… Unfortunately, they’re everywhere. And if there’s anything a Soulless King can do, it's to force a person to do what we want them to do.
By the time church ends, I’m more than ready to return to my mom’s house. But I have some things to do first.
Now that I’m staying at the house, Ember and I haven’t talked about how she wants to handle her days off. If it were my call to make, all of her free time would be spent with me. I want to get to know her, the woman she is now. I want to learn whatmakes her tick, what makes her smile, what makes her cry, and what scares her.
In order to do that, we’re going to need time together without Mom. Which is why I plan on surprising Ember tonight with a date of sorts. In order to accomplish it, I have errands to run and supplies to buy. I know it’ll be worth it in the end, and I hope like hell she agrees.
Fingers crossed.
CHAPTER 24
EMBER
What a way to go.
“I hopeyou know what you’re doing.”
“Me too,” I reply, wedging my cell between my shoulder and ear.
Lori and I have been talking for only a few minutes, and I didn’t waste any time telling her about my agreement with Ghost to take things a day at a time. At the moment, I’m second-guessing the decision.
Ghost told me he wouldn’t be late, and it’s already after nine. He texted me around five and said he had some things to do but that I shouldn’t eat dinner. I’m hungry and cranky and getting tired.
Where is he?
“Earth to Ember,” Lori says, yanking me from my thoughts. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“What? Nothing, why?”
“Because you got super quiet all of a sudden.”
“Oh. I was just thinking.”
“About him?”
I can’t stop the giggle that escapes, making me sound like a naive schoolgirl. “Always.”
“Promise me one thing,” she says.
“Anything.”
“Be careful.”
“Trust me, Lor, I will. The last thing I want is another broken heart. I know I won’t survive it this time around.”
My phone beeps with an incoming call, and I glance at the screen to see Ghost’s name flash. “Hey, I gotta go. He’s calling.”
“Okay. Call me tomorrow.”
“Will do.” I switch calls. “Hi.”
“Hey, Em.” There’s a smile in his voice. “I know it’s late, and I’m sorry about that, but I need you to do me a favor.”
