“Well, today I want you to give in to every obnoxious instinct you’ve ever had,” Zoe instructed. “I want you to sexually ogle the females, tell the dudes they have tiny units, and pretty much drive them insane. If you have trouble thinking up insults, I’ll totally make you a list.”
“What if they get angry?”
“Then you’ll be doing your job well,” I answered. “That’s what we want. They’re the bad guys. If we can knock them off their game before we even arrive, it will be better for us.”
“Fine.” Tim appeared resigned. “I’ll do it, but I won’t like it.”
“You’re a true team player.” I grinned. “Welcome to the team.”
DINNER CONSISTED OF HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS. Tim had given us a firm location to go on and then returned to carry out the rest of his mission. As the sun started its inevitable descent, Sami’s mood took an equally dark turn.
“I’ve been thinking.” She sidled closer to her father and watched him roast a marshmallow. We were twenty minutes from leaving and she was still trying to negotiate a deal that had her going with us rather than being left behind.
“Oh yeah?” Aric pulled the marshmallow back and stared at it. He was careful not to allow it to catch fire, basically bronzing the outside. Once finished studying it, he handed it to Zoe, who happily wedged a slab of chocolate on top before squashing it between two graham crackers. “What have you been thinking? Wait, before you answer, do you want one or two s’mores?”
Sami rolled her eyes. “I don’t want any. I’m too old for s’mores.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re never too old for s’mores. Look at your mother.” He inclined his head toward Zoe, who had her mouth full of sugary goodness and a chocolate smear on her cheek. “She’s not a child and yet she absolutely loves her s’mores.” The smile he shot his wife was lusty. “How can you not want a s’more?”
“Because I don’t feel good,” Sami snapped. “My stomach is upset.”
Aric flicked his eyes back to her. “Does it hurt or is it nerves?”
“It’s fear,” Sami announced. “I’m afraid that if you leave me behind then you won’t get Rafael back.”
Aric shook his head. “You’re not coming.”
“You might need me.” Sami had clearly been putting her argument together for an extended amount of time. She recognized this was her last chance to sway her parents’ decision. More importantly, she’d pegged Aric as the parent who might give in, which I found interesting. I would’ve assumed her luck would’ve been better with Zoe, who knew a little something about wanting to save the people she loved most on the back of impressive mage magic.
“Sami, we’re going to be okay,” Aric insisted. “The four of us are going together now. Your mother won’t be alone.”
I wanted to point out that she wasn’t going to be alone before he pulled off his maneuver, but it wasn’t necessary. The team was now set, and for better or worse, we were stuck with one another.
“I just need you to listen to me,” Sami implored. “Just for a minute.”
Aric feigned patience. “Make your case.”
I was surprised he was encouraging her ... until I realized it was simply a way to placate his daughter. She had no chance of swaying him but if he allowed her to feel she’d done her best to change his mind, she was more likely to calm down, at least in theory.
“It’s just like Covenant College.” Her voice was low but strong. “You guys wanted to cut me out of the action, send me away, but if I hadn’t been there ...” One look at Aric’s stony expression told me why she didn’t finish the statement. He clearly didn’t enjoy being reminded of his wife’s near-death experience.
“You saved your mother that night,” Aric said, “and I will be forever grateful for that. You have no idea.”
“I don’t want you to be grateful. I just want you to need me.”
“Ah, Sami.” He moved his hand to the back of her dark head and smoothed her hair. “We do need you, and even though you don’t believe it, we’re proud of you. But you’re still a child. It’s our job to keep you safe. It’s also our job to get Rafael. This is our best chance of keeping you safe and saving him at the same time. I really wish you would back off and let us do what we have to do.”
“I’m afraid that something bad will happen if I don’t go with you.”
Aric shook his head. “I love you, Sami, beyond reason. Your mother also loves you. Loath as I am to admit it, we love Rafael, too. This is our best shot of getting him back. If you keep pushing us on this, not only will you not be going with us, but we’re going to be forced to abandon our plan to save him. Is that what you want?”
Sami’s mouth dropped open. “You would really not go after him because of me?”
“We have to keep you safe above all else. Rafael understands that. If you force our hand, you’re not going to like the outcome.”
Sami chewed on her bottom lip. I could tell the moment reality finally slapped her in the face because her shoulders slumped. “Fine. Do what you want. I don’t like it, though. I don’t like any of it.”
Aric grabbed another marshmallow and planted it on the end of his stick. “That’s why I’m making you a s’more. Everything is better with a s’more, even rampant disappointment.”
“Whatever.” Sami rolled her eyes to the sky. “You’d better bring him back. If I have to pick another husband, I’m going to be really mad.”
“Ugh.” Aric’s disgust was evident. “I thought you switched your affections to Gunner.”
“I decided I was being hasty.” Sami jutted her chin out. “He has a girlfriend and he’s not going to change his mind about her. Besides, your first love is always
