Chapter 28 Krista #2
“If I went, I would only get myself hurt. After all, I have no brains to rely on. I have zero fighting skills, and it’s really not worth saying more than that, is it?”
He was silent on the other end of the phone.
“That’s what I thought.”
I hung up, grabbing my wine and chugging the entire glass.
Claire stared at me with wide eyes. “He might have really needed you.”
“And if he does, he’ll call back.”
“Not likely,” Kate chuckled. “These men are known for their pride, and you just smashed his to bits. Not that I don’t commend you for your valiant effort. It was truly a sight to witness.”
“If he didn’t want to grovel a little, then he shouldn’t have been such an ass.”
With that, I snatched a chocolate from Kate’s box and popped it in my mouth.
“Hey!”
“You may be pregnant, but I’m a woman scorned.”
Twenty minutes later, I still hadn’t heard back from Rob. Pacing the room, I thought of every possible reason he could need my help, but without the details of what was going on, it was pretty pointless.
“I mean, it’s probably nothing,” I laughed to myself. “He was most likely beating himself up for how he treated me, and he wanted to make it right.”
“Sure,” Claire nodded. “And he wanted to make it right by asking you to go into a dangerous situation. That so sounds like our guys.”
“Well, maybe Cap,” Kate mused. “You know how much Maggie loves to get involved in things.”
“True. I still say he really did need your help, and things must be really bad for him to ask.”
Plopping down in my chair, I let out a frustrated scream, tossing my head back in the process. But when that did nothing to help, I got up and started pacing the room again.
“My mother wants his mother’s number to plan the wedding,” I chuckled.
“Um…” Claire looked warily at Kate. “And you didn’t give it to her, right?”
“I don’t have it, but I might have considered it if I did. I mean, he deserves it. He’s being an ass.”
“Right, by keeping you safe,” Kate said slowly.
“You know that’s not why I was mad,” I huffed. “Men are so stupid.”
“We’ve already been over this,” Claire said. “But I can appreciate your amazing recollection skills.”
Groaning, I slumped in the chair again. “Why? Why do I do this?”
“Flop in chairs?” Kate asked.
“Sabotage every relationship!”
“I thought you said this was all fake,” Claire reminded me.
“Yes, but if he’s truly reaching out with an olive branch, I should have taken it. Instead, I baited him because that’s what I do. I’m my own worst enemy!”
“Girl, you’re not the only one.”
I glanced at Claire, wishing I had it all together like her. “How do you do it with Derek?”
“Me?” She laughed at that. “Oh, I didn’t have it together in the beginning. No, I was a complete mess. My life was chaotic and I pretty much destroyed everything between us at one point. But you live and learn.”
“And then get Luvs,” Kate said, raising a box of chocolates.
“I am not getting Luvs to keep my husband happy.”
“No, I wouldn’t recommend that. They become worse once they find out you’re pregnant,” Kate snorted.
Sighing, I was just about to give up on the whole thing and bury myself in my bed when the phone rang.
Popping up, I stared at the screen with wide eyes. “It’s him! What do I do?”
“Well, you could start by pressing the button that answers the call,” Kate smirked.
“Right. Answer the phone. That is a good start.”
“But be confident,” Claire shouted.
“But also be willing to bend,” Kate added.
“And don’t give in right away.”
“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. You need me.”
“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?”
“Because I care about you!” he shouted in frustration.
“Can’t you see that? I don’t want you to come with me because I don’t want to put you in danger!
And if you come out here and something happens, my life will be ruined.
Not because I screwed up, but because you got hurt because of me.
And that’s not something I want to deal with.
I’m sorry to tell you that I have feelings for you like this, but frankly, there’s no other way. ”
He was heaving by the time he was done with his tirade. Grinning at Claire and Kate, I cleared my throat.
“Well, alright. No need to get all touchy-feely. How do I get out there?”