With a Twist (Last Call #4)(9)

"Yeah …  just thinking about how you came back home after Mom died so I wouldn't be alone."

"Stop being such an LPA," he fake sneers into the phone. "You're going to make me cry."

"Dork," I tell him fondly.

"So why did you call?" he asks. "I just talked to you day before yesterday."

Absently fingering a lock of my blonde hair, I tell him, "I'm going to North Carolina on an assignment. It's undercover, and we won't be able to contact each other. If anything happens and you need to get word to me, you need to contact my SAC, Dale Lambert. I'll text you his info."

"What's the case about?"

"You know I can't tell you that," I admonish gently.

"Then why you? Why are they sending an agent from Pittsburgh to North Carolina?"

It's classified information but even if I could tell him, I wouldn't. I'm not about to divulge to my older brother that I stripped my way to a higher education, therefore I'm the perfect candidate. He'd never understand and then feel guilty as shit that he couldn't help contribute to my education.

"Top secret," I tell him.

He sighs in frustration, and I can just imagine him running his hand through his own long, blond hair. "For how long?"

"I have no clue but if you get worried because you haven't heard from me, just call Dale. He can give you reassurances."

Kyle is quiet a moment and I hear him expel a deep breath into the phone. "Are you going to be in danger?"

Probably.

"Of course not," I lie baldly. "It's an easy operation. We'll laugh about it over beers when it's finished, I promise."



       
         
       
        

"You're a terrible liar, Andrea," he murmurs into the phone. "Your voice gets shaky when you fib, so you best get that under control before you go undercover."

"Don't worry about me, Kyle. I'll be fine and careful, and when it's all done …  I'll be a hero and you can worship at my feet."

"I already worship at your feet, brat. Have since the day you were born."

But now only from afar, I think to myself before shaking my head. I can't be bitter over the fact that Kyle leads his life and I lead mine. The important thing is that he's there for me when I need him.

"I know," I tell him with love in my soul and tears threatening to form in my eyes. "Listen …  I need to get going. Packing and other stuff to do. You'll be the first call I make as soon as this is over, okay? Maybe I'll even come out for a visit."

"Before you go," he says softly. "Are you going to tell me why you want me to call your SAC rather than David if I need information?"

Shit.

I close my eyes, rub the bridge of my nose, and take in a deep breath.

Kyle continues. "And are you going to tell me why you haven't mentioned David at all in the last few weeks?"

"Kyle …  now's not the time-"

"Spill it, sis," he orders me gruffly, and I recognize that tone. It means he's not going to let up on me.

Sighing, I slide my finger over the shoebox sitting beside me. Flipping the top off, I see several photographs inside of David and me, along with a black velvet jewelry box. "David broke off the engagement three weeks ago."

"That fucking shit," Kyle explodes into the phone. "What the fuck did he do that for?"

I grit my teeth, because even as sad as I am that David and I are no more, I'm also still really pissed at him. "He doesn't want to move from Pittsburgh if I get transferred. He wanted me to pull my application from the BRIU. I refused, and he broke off the engagement."

"What a bastard," Kyle grumbles. "Let me guess …  he couldn't stand to give up his precious season tickets to the Steelers."

"He couldn't give up any of it," I clarify. "His job, his family …  he is Pittsburgh through and through. It's all he's knows, and he doesn't want to know anything else."

"I'm sorry, Andrea. He's a fucking pussy, and you deserve better," Kyle says, and my heart swells for love over how indignant he is. I want to be totally indignant too, but I succumb to moments of utter self-pity that the man I love doesn't love me enough to let me pursue my dreams. 

"Look …  I really need to get going so I can finish getting ready to fly out tomorrow."

"Yeah, okay," he says sadly. "We'll talk more about this when you get done with this operation. Stay safe. Love you."

"Love you too," I whisper and hang up.