“That doesn’t make sense. I don’t fear anything.”
“I think you’ve had a lot to fear these last few weeks, a lot you can’t control when you’ve been trying to.”
“Are you calling me a control freak?”
“If the shoe fits …”
“You’re just as bad as Zoey.”
“Good. You need friends who aren’t intimidated to tell you what’s on their mind.”
Kalinda shrugged. “Maybe you’re right. Doesn’t clarify this situation at all right now.”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
“Why would I?”
“Um, because you want to know. Look, men are stupid. He may not know you want him to say it. Or maybe he thinks he made you uncomfortable by saying in the first place and he’s not saying it right now so he doesn’t put pressure on you.”
Silva had a point, and Kalinda could even see that knowing what she knew of Romano’s personal story. Maybe he wasn’t willing to put on her what he thought she wasn’t ready for, and here he was again, making the decision to put her feelings before his. She could strangle the man. She thought they’d gotten past all that, but maybe they hadn’t.
She tossed the overworked dough into the trash, making a note to take it out later that night, and decided she may have to take Silva up on her suggestion. She wasn’t really on the team of waiting around to figure out. Not anymore. If that’s how Romano felt, they’d deal with it, but he wasn’t going to put that away for her. They were over that.
She untied her apron and headed toward the front door, already picking up her phone.
“Oh, Kalinda’s on the warpath. I’ve got to see this.”
Kalinda didn’t try to stop Silva. There wasn’t a point. The Fae was going to go anywhere she wanted, when she wanted. And when it came to Kalinda, she didn’t deal well being away from her. They’d already found that out. They’d tested it, now that she was restored to her memories and powers. When she was more than a few miles away from Kalinda for more than a short period of time, she started to get antsy, and it could turn painful.
Silva trailed behind Kalinda as she called the one person she knew would tell her where Romano was without blinking.
It took a couple minutes, but Zoey answered with a breathless chuckle. “Hiya, Kal.”
“I am not Superman. You know I hate that nickname.”
“It’s boss. I like it. I’m going to keep it.”
“It’s not for you to keep, Zoey.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Something about you loves it and that’s it. Why did you call?”
Kalinda prayed for the strength to not kill her friends. “Do you know where Romano is?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. How about we trade my info for five banana nut bread loaves.”
“Now I have to pay you?”
“The baby has to eat, and I’m totally shameless when it comes to food. I’ll even give you the scoop as a deposit. Deal?”
How was she going to say no to that? “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”
“Everyone learns so fast. He’s right next to me.”
“And where are you, Zoey?”
“That will be an extra pound cake.”
“Zoey!”
