“I’d like that,” she replies. “I’ll look forward to it.”
I nod. “Me too. Love you.”
“I love you too, Asch. Very much.”
“Talk to you later,” I tell her.
When I end the call, I feel like a weight has been lifted.
I don’t know what’s going to happen this weekend.
I don’t know if I’m even going to get through it in one piece, or without ending up in jail. But at the very least, I’ve had this conversation, and it’s worth something to me.
My phone buzzes, and I expect to see a text from my mother. It’s Pandora in the group chat, though.
Pandora
Did you know they don’t even manufacture guillotines anymore? WTF? That’s such a perfect stocking stuffer though.
Blaze
Your stockings are bigger than mine.
Pandora
Everything about me is bigger than you, Blabe.
I roll my eyes.
At least they’re acting normal, even if nobody else is.
I imagine dropping everything and going home to my mom right now. I’d leave Pandora and Blaze and even River to fend for themselves.
I’d be safe.
My mom wouldn’t need to worry.
But my heart clenches at the thought of never seeing Pandora again. It’s a physical pain, one that would haunt me forever.
I can’t trust Pandora and Blaze to stay out of trouble, and River can’t protect both of them on his own.
They need me.
“Sorry, Mom,” I whisper. “Looks like I’m way too much like Dad.”
Let’s hope I don’t meet the same fate.
27
PANDORA
I open the front door of Blaze’s place, see Kratos and Ares standing on the front step, and immediately slam it shut again.
“Pandora!” Ares shouts through the door. “We already know something is up. You can’t ignore us forever!”
One of them starts ringing the doorbell, like a fucking savage.
“Also, if you want Stasya’s help, you need to let us in too,” Kratos adds.
