Page 47

“Hey there,” Edith practically purred. “We’ll both have ice cream sundaes.”

“What’s an ice cream sundae?”

“You’re gonna love it,” Edith said as she waved me off, keeping her focus on the waitress. “Extra cherry for me, sweet thang,” and then she winked.

I closed my eyes, doing everything I could to keep from burying my face in my hands. I swear, if I didn’t love this girl so much, I’d stay as far away from her as possible. The waitress winked back at Edith with a smirk and then left us.

“So do you just go after anything that walks? Or do you actually have a type?” I teased.

Edith leaned back in her chair, a devilish smirk painted across her face. “Mara, when you’re as lovable and sexy as me, it would be a crime against humanity to deny anyone a taste.”

This time, Ididbury my face in my hands, feeling sheepish while also trying my best not to laugh so hard that I peed myself. “Oh my god, Edith,” I managed through ragged breaths, “how are you evenyou? I met your family. They’re like…normal. It makes no sense.”

Edith chuckled. “I know. I totally improved my whole genetic line.”

I laughed again. I knew she was joking, but a part of me suspected she totally believed it. “You sure did, friend.”

She shrugged her shoulders in anI knowkind of way. “So, how’s it going over there at the McMansion?”

I sighed. “Hard to tell. I haven’t been there that long.” My thoughts drifted through the last twenty-four hours, and I realized I had a lot to update Edith on. “Actually, I’m pretty sure I’m already on Marissa’s hit list.”

“Ooo…already, huh?” Leaning forward in her chair, she rested her chin on her hand. “Do tell.”

With a deep breath, I recounted everything from when Edith left me on the grass, to arriving at the Calvernon Estate, to dinner with the whole fam-damn-ly, to my meeting with Sasha this morning. At some point, our waitress had brought us our ice cream, and Edith was putting her first spoonful into her mouth as I finished recounting the last epic drama that was my life right now.

“Damn, girl. You weren’t kidding. That’s a lot.”

“Iknow,” I groaned as I rubbed my face with my hands. “And I don’t even know what to do now. I’m totally lost.”

“Mmmm,” she moaned as she took in another spoonful. “You could ask for volunteers?”

I jabbed the white stuff with bits of black…somethingwith my spoon. What the hell was this? “I know, but I don’t know the first thing about leading a bunch of people into something like this.”

“Well, for starters, not every leader knows exactly what they’re doing the first time they do it. And,” she pressed on as she pointed her spoon at me, “a good leader understands their own weaknesses. They find experts that fill in their blind spots and know when to ask for help or pass over command to someone who knows better.”

I considered that for a moment. “Okay…but I don’t know any experts.”

“Sure you do,” she spoke as she shoveled another spoonful of her ice cream. “Are you going to eat that, or what?”

“Huh? Oh!” I looked down at the shlop, because whatever this stuff was, it was melting all over the place. “Who do I know?” I scooped up some of the stuff and sniffed it.Wow!Whatever it was smelled delicious.

“How about me? I know stuff. I helped you with the Admin Job. I’m wicked good at all the computer stuff, and I’m seriously awesome with knives and you know it.”

All true things, but I couldn’t ask Edith to do this. “I appreciate that, and I’ll take all the help you’re willing to give me, but you don’t have to. I got myself into this. I don’t expect you to dive in with me.”

Edith gave me the biggest eyeroll I’d ever seen. “Gosh, newbie, don’t even start with me. You ask for volunteers, and I’m there. You need me.”

And just like that, warmth fluttered through me as my heart melted. Because Edith, my best friend in the entire world—and quite possibly my only friend—was volunteering herself, placing herself at serious risk, just to help me. Just like the Admin Job, I felt immense gratitude and love for this girl, craziness and all. But I couldn’t let her do this. Not when I was still trying to figure out how I was going to ensure the team’s survival when I left everyone behind.But…I also knew that arguing with Edith was a pointless endeavor. I’d have to figure it all out later.

“Thanks, Edith.”

“Of course! Besides, I bet there’ll be some major hotties, and I can’t pass that up.”

And here we go again. I laughed, because how could I not? But I knew Edith’s real motivations were a desire to help, to support, and to be the ultimate friend.

She shoveled another spoonful and swallowed before asking, “You said Sasha was going to pick a team this week. Does that mean they already have a plan for the mission?”

“I think so. I’m supposed to meet Giza tomorrow to go over the mission parameters and discuss selecting a team.” I stabbed my ice cream with my spoon, watching as the metal glided into the white lump, cutting through it easily.