7
I held myself together until we walked through the lobby, rode the elevator, and entered our suite. Then, I fell apart, by which I mean that if my heart could have left my body and throbbed on the floor it would have. My best friend was being held hostage while I was supposed to construct an elaborate plan to steal back a black-market book collection. This was even worse than grading 120 composition papers in one weekend. Way worse.
The guys stood around while I cried for a bit and they didn’t say anything like, “Don’t cry,” or “It’ll be all right,” which I appreciated. I had already been condescended to enough for one day. Frank got me a glass of water and while Aaran helped me to the couch, Boone got his laptop and set up a little command station.
Then, once we were all seated, Boon
