“What if I want to go straight ahead?” I asked.
Frigg lifted her burger, tucking some of the onions back between the buns. “Then just commit to the decision.Stopworrying.” Her gaze met mine, her eyes sharp with something that made me feel like she was looking a lot deeper into me than I wanted. “And go.”
She took a huge bite of the burger, and I wondered if that was the solution. Justgo.
Could it be that easy?
My phone pinged. Ryder again.
I’ll take that as a no.
I didn’t text back.
The phone pinged.
Let’s talk tonight at home. Ok?
Really, he’d been more than patient.
I texted:Have to see Than. Will be home later.
Did you feed the dragon pig?
It had a snack.
He sent a thumbs up and a heart.
I sent three hearts and a kissy face.
“I’ve got this one.” Jean’s fingers and thumb flew over her phone.
“Problem?”
“I don’t think so. Hatter just texted that there was a complaint at Mom’s Bar and Grill. Something about a stripper? Gonna make sure there isn’t a problem.”
More delays. I swallowed a groan. “Fine, let’s go.”
“No. You,” she stood and pointed at me, looking every inch an officer of the law, “go talk to Than. I’ll handle this. Hatter’s headed there. Kelby too.”
Hatter was a police officer we’d stolen from a town up north, and Kelby was a giantess, who was one of our reserve officers like Ryder and Than. She had a way about her that took the heat out of confrontations and left everyone laughing.
“That’s Kelby now.” Jean’s gaze moved from the widow beside me back to my face. “Look, I know you’re worried about stuff. And I know it’s been… well, nuts lately.”
I stabbed a carrot and shoved it in my mouth.
“But would you justgoalready?” She smiled to soften the words. “I promise you’ll have a lot of fun and you’ll be so happy you did it.”
“Who knows,” Frigg added. “You might even relax.”
“The horror,” Jean said with a grin. “Go. Wherever he picks, just say yes and go.”
She turned and jogged out the door before she’d even gotten her coat on and zipped.
Kelby flashed her headlights, Jean ducked into the vehicle, then they pulled a cookie and headed south into town.
I watched the car until I couldn’t see it anymore. There were little toys lined up along the windowsill, the plastic ones that ran on solar power. They all seemed to be waving good-bye.
“You want to talk to me about why you’re afraid of going on vacation?” Frigg asked.
