Skye huffed a laugh. “You’re ridiculous. I mean, it depends on the battle. During some, the stats all reset, but sometimes it’s cumulative. That’s why you always need some kind of healer in your group.”
“Huh, OK.”
“And Blackwell? She’s a glass cannon. Hits hard, but one wrong push and she’ll crack. Remember how she said she wasn’t doing anything criminal? She burns bright, sure, but she’s fragile when it comes to the dirt we live in. You gotta watch out there.”
“Noted,” Lucia drawled.
Skye dragged her foot along the floor. “Anyway, it wasn’t fair. I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s OK. I get it. That was a lot, but yeah, I’d appreciate it if I no longer acted as yourtank.” She reached out again, once more grasping Skye’s hand. “But you can come talk to me, OK? I’m not going to abandon you, Skylar.”
Skye ducked her head. “Thanks,” she croaked.
“Come here, you idiot.” Lucia pulled her in for a hug.
Skye clutched her closer as Lucia’s neck grew damp.
As she held Skye, Lucia wondered if she had ever encountered a healer in her life.
On her way back to her car, her mind drifted to what else Skye had said: Penelope as a glass cannon.
Huh. Surely there had to be information online about this class of…whatever Skye had called them. Hero? Character? She should look it up sometime.
Chapter 29
Unspoken
While waiting for Lucia to show up, Penelope decided to vacuum her floors. Not that they needed it, but it burned off some restless energy, even if Fuller had released a scandalized meow and escaped to her bedroom.
She’d made the right decision, stepping away, but she couldn’t help but worry about Lucia. She also wondered why Francesca had even discussed her new plan with Penelope present after she’d declared an end to their association.
Perhaps this was a sort of mind game to get her back in? But for what?
The doorbell rang right after she’d stowed the vacuum and washed her hands.
She almost ran to the door, flinging it open with a smile that wilted when instead of Lucia, a delivery man pushed a package into her hands.
“Thanks,” she said by the time he was already halfway back to his truck.
With a sigh, she shut the door and placed the package on the console table. Just her overpriced chocolate, no emotional payoff inside.
Her phone beeping interrupted her spiraling thoughts, full of questions with no answers.
Hey. I’m on my way. Want me to pick up something to eat? I’m actually craving tacos, but I can get whatever you want, too.
Tacos sound good, thank you. Make sure they are spicy.
LOL. Will do.
And so Penelope stood in her entrance hall, grinning like an idiot over an art forger and tacos.
She reread the messages, thumb hovering over the screen longer than necessary. The smallest effort, the smallest reach, and it undid her.
Ridiculous.
She glanced at her watch and headed for the bathroom to take a quick shower.
By the time Lucia arrived, Penelope had rediscovered (most of) her equilibrium, and she ushered her inside so they could settle at the table and eat.
