Page 31 of Thorns and Ashes
Of course I am.
“Whatever you want, Callie.” I reach out and squeeze her knee.
“That’s my line.” Tom chuckles. “Speaking of dinner. Ali called. She said you saved Violet’s best friend today and that she wants to thank you with a home-cooked meal. What happened?”
“Kid had an allergic reaction to a pastry,” I say, reliving the event for the hundredth time since this afternoon.
Callie gasps, her hand covering her mouth as she subconsciously pulls Sunny closer to her chest, like a mother’s instinct to protect her child kicks in at the sound of danger.
“It was no big deal. I mean, it could have been, but we were there and acted quickly,” I reassure her.
“Ali said the hospital cleared him. His mom is making sure to talk to him more strictly about his allergies and the importance ofnot accepting free samples, no matter how ‘delicious’ they look,” Tom fills us in.
“I’ll talk to the girls,” Callie decides. “I’ll have them add stricter allergy labels to everything.”
“I don’t think you’ll get any arguments about that. Tris was pretty upset by the whole thing.” The second the sentence leaves my mouth, I’m wishing I could swallow it back in.
Callie and Tom share a glance before looking back at me.
“You noticed someone else’s feelings?” Tom laughs out. “Callie, get the thermometer.”
“No way, I’m calling for an ambulance. He’s clearly having a stroke.”
“You both can kick rocks,” I grumble, walking away as they continue to taunt and make jokes in the background. “You two aren’t as funny as you think you are,” I yell from the top of the landing once I’ve made it up the stairs.
“You’re right,” Tom chokes out.
“We’re funnier,” Callie finishes, sending them both back into hysterics.
Great. Just great.
Ellie plops onto my bed as soon as I close my bedroom door.
“That’s a great idea, Ellie.”
I rub her belly before lying back on my bed, and surprisingly, sleep takes me.
“You need to go.”
“Not a chance!”
“Help!” I yell in every direction. The words echo on and on as I toss and turn, stuck somewhere in between this sleeping and waking nightmare.
“Levi, please,” Krystal begs, but I’d rather die than leave her here.
I shake my head.
“You’re so stubborn.” A small laugh escapes her before it turns into coughing. The last laugh I ever heard.
Please don’t leave me like this. I need you. Damn it, Krystal. Baby, please!
“Hey, look at me.” She reaches up, holding my face in her hand. “It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”
“No,” I gasp, tears streaming down my face.
“I love you so much,” she says, her voice coming out in short, uneven breaths.
“I love you, baby,” I rasp, broken sobs wracking my body. “I’m getting us out of here.”
