I push him from me and look into his sorrowful blue eyes. “Death tripping is very tied to emotions. It’s affected by our moods, our relationships, our minds. Everything, right? All connected, all intertwined.”
“It seems to be. Where are you going with this?”
I start to smile as my brain puts it all together. “Listen to me. I didn’t see the truth before. I didn’t haveinsight.”
He frowns. “Okay.”
“Not until I had all the facts, the real story of what happened in the past. Now, Isee.”
Costa starts to smile, too. “You can see. Stella, you can see.”
I nod and watch as what I’m saying sinks in.
“And now you can help Sam see.”
“Yes,” I confirm breathlessly. “I can help Sam see. Literally.”
In an instant, our destruction turns to hope.
“It’s so obvious now.” Costa’s cheeks are flushed with excitement. “It makes total sense. God, Stella. This could really work.”
“It will work. I’m sure.”
“We can find Toby.”
“Yes,” I agree. “We can find Toby.”
“You are incredible.” Costa’s eyes are wet, but this time, it’s from joy.
He puts a hand on the back of my neck and leans in, kissing my cheek. For a moment, he keeps his lips on my skin, perhaps for too long, but I don’t pull away. I should, but I don’t.
“We can do this,” he says with conviction.
“Okay.”
Costa leaps up and scurries to the coffee maker. “We need fuel. Should we wake up Sam? I’ll make breakfast. Lots of eggs. Protein, right? That seems like a good idea. Get us all ready.”
His manic energy is making me nervous.
“We should let him sleep, don’t you think?”
“Why? Let’s do this. What’s the point in waiting? If we can get Toby, then—” Costa stops himself. “Oh. Stella, I’m sorry.”
“What?” I take a seat at one of the stools. Apparently, I’m not hiding my worry very well.
“You’re going to have to trip with us if this plays out the way we hope.”
“I know,” I say softly.
“You scared? Or you want it too much?”
I’m scaredbecauseI want it too much. “It’s okay. It’ll be fine.”
“I know Sam hates the idea of you tripping, and if there were any other way…”
“There’s not. It’s a good thing that you tripped me because I’m the only one who can augment Sam’s vision while we’re under. It’s our best chance.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make it fun for you.” He winks. The old Costa is back.
