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I sighed. “Caley, I can’t—”
She took another few steps toward me, closing in on the bed, her eyes narrowing, dark and stormy. “Don’t even say to me you can’t get out of this now because I won’t have it.” She stomped her foot in classic Caley fashion. “You love Kipp, I get that. But if he loved you as much, he wouldn’t want this for you—”
“I’ve seen him.”
Caley huffed, once again, throwing her hands up. “Well, thank the fucking stars. Now this can end. You can go back to being the perfectly happy ghost lovin’ fool you’ve been.”
I cringed and knew the long, drawn-out conversation I had wanted to avoid was now upon me. Worse, I realized I should’ve had it last night when she wasn’t pissed. Getting the current wound up Caley to see reason wouldn’t come easily. “Kipp’s not here.”
“What do you mean, he’s not here?” Caley glanced around as if searching out a ghost, even if that was ridiculous because she couldn’t see one. “Where is he?”
“In the Netherworld.” As her lips parted to no doubt cut me off, I raised my hand. “Yes, I realize this is going to be totally insane to process, but I did go there and saw him last night. But before we get into that and calm the jets a minute, Caley…” I looked at Zach, who remained at the doorway. “Why are you here?”
His eyebrow arched. “You call me and say you’re staying in a house that might, or might not, also have the person responsible for Alexander’s death here, too. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t come?”
My heart did a little pitter-patter, though now I realized his search for a gunfight earlier had been because he thought the killer might be in this house with me. “Okay, well that’s nice and thank you, but…” I slid my gaze over to Caley, whose glare remained. “You didn’t come alone?”
“Of course he didn’t come alone.” Caley snorted, flicking her long locks over her shoulder. “Do you think I’d let him leave me behind while you are in danger and surrounded by people who don’t care about you?”
“Now wait a minute,” Gretchen countered in a tight voice. “That’s not true. I care about her.”
As those two played the stare of death, I sighed and could’ve kissed Zach when he cut through the tension and said, “She was coming whether I came or not, so why fight it?”
Seeing Caley’s firm stance and Zach’s knowing look, this couldn’t be undone. Caley needed answers and I sympathized with that need—I wanted them, too. “Okay, Caley. Sit down.” I pointed at her. “Gretchen is one of the good guys so stop glaring at her.”
Caley took a seat on the bed in front of me and her scowl slowly melted away. “Zach told me about what’s happened so far. I mean, I get it all, Tess. But come on, when is enough, enough?”
Trapped in my best friend’s gaze, I allowed all my heartache to pour into my expression. Instantly, her hands wrapped around mine, and her features softened. “It won’t ever be enough?”
I shook my head slowly. “Being here is the only way for me to get him back. So, please, let’s move past that. I’m not leaving until Kipp is safely back in his body. Whatever I have to do, no matter how shitty is, I’ll do it.”
She looked at Zach, her expression became tender, and this was the reason I loved Caley. She could be overbearing and sometimes wildly ridiculous, but when it came right down to it, she had my back. She’d never judged me or disbelieved in my abilities. Perhaps she hated the danger it put me in, but she was right—if she loved me, how could she be okay with this all? If the roles were reversed, I doubted I’d be either.
After a long exhale, she turned to me and her voice softened. “Do you honestly believe this is going to work?”
I glanced down to our held hands above the bedspread and considered the question. It didn’t even take a second to realize deep down the answer remained clear. “It has to work.” I lifted my gaze to her. “I can’t even consider it failing.”
She studied me for a moment with sad eyes, and then to Gretchen she asked, “Do you believe she won’t get killed doing this? Twice now, she’s nearly died.”
Gretchen shifted on the bed, sitting cross-legged next to me in her plaid pajamas. “I won’t answer that question.”
Caley’s glare returned. “Why?”
“Because you’re trapping me,” Gretchen replied, cool and collected. “I’ll do whatever I can to help Tess see this through. But I won’t be responsible if something bad happens to her.”
“She’s right.” I gave Caley a hard look. “Cut Gretchen a break. I’m doing this. Not her. She’s been nothing but kind and helpful to me.”
r /> Caley’s gaze lowered to the hardwood floor for only a moment before she lifted her head and tears welled in her eyes. “I can’t lose you, do you understand that?”
Zach stepped in toward Caley with a furrow to his brow. Guilt instantly consumed me. I’d been so wrapped up in myself and in Kipp, I hadn’t realized what this was doing to her.
Twice now, I had almost died. Caley and I were as close as sisters were and that bond was unbreakable. Now I saw her anger came from fear, but one truth remained. “I can’t lose Kipp either.”
A tear slid down Caley’s cheek. “I know.” She wiped at her face. “I just hate this. All of it.”
“Me, too.” Sadly, knowing that changed nothing and I couldn’t make her any promises to when it would all end; this mess wouldn’t magically go away.
“All right, you’ve got that out of your system, Caley.” Zach sat in next to her on the bed, tucking her into his side, and his intense blue eyes zeroed in on me. “Tell me again what you’ve got so far. I’ll do what I can to help you both, ensuring neither of you lose anything.”
