Chapter 30: If I Won't, Who Will?
It wasn't like they could sleep on it. They had to make a decision. As more time elapses, the more of a chance for Chase to succeed. The screaming matches were becoming unbearable. There was a constant hum of attitude, panic, stubbornness, and uncertainty. "Just shut up people!" Elliot screeched the loudest, "We can't force anyone to do anything. This has to be volunteer." Five minutes of silence went by. "Fine, I'll do it," Browen blurted. After she said that, her eyes bulged and realized what she is signing up for. "And have Reid as a father, I don't think so," Alexandra mused. "Who said it had to be Reid?" Browen added, "It could be Caleb." "I just fuckin' told you last night that I love you. Now, you want to sleep with Caleb?!"
"Wait, you told her what?" Pogue was surprised. "Fine, if the whole fuckin' world has to know, I love her, okay?! I've grown soft or stupid or both. I had to put up with your bitchy, know-it-all, argumentative, PMS-ing sarcasm for this long, I think I secure rights to have you." "Well ain't that the sweetest thing I heard," Browen faked a Southern accent. "So, you're volunteering, Reid?" Tyler posed. Reid took Browen outside the room. Reid shifted his stance and covered his face with his gloved hands and took a deep breath. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. He rubbed some of his blonde tufts. He would kill Caleb before letting her have his baby. "That means you're doing the spell?" he asked Browen. "Yup." "Which means you will at risk with Chase?" "To end it once and for all." "Why would you want to do something stupid like that?"
"If I won't, who will? Elliot isn't doing it. I'm more comfortable with incantations. Besides, don't you want a free pass on this ride?" She laughed. "You know it's not like that." "I know but you can only play the angles you have." Of course, Reid would understand a pool analogy. "Reid, I won't hold it against you if you won't do this. But I have to do it no matter what." Reid leaned his forehead onto hers. He held her upper arms and took a deep breath and inhaled her scent. He doesn't want to lose her to Caleb, to Chase, or to any other force that exists. "Okay," he mustered. "Really?" "Yeah, I love you and I do anything to save you." Browen was touched and caught her breath. Her eyes became a little glassy. Reid felt her stiffened and looked to her face.
He cupped her face with his gloved hands. Browen moved eyes to the side and back to him and smiled, "Such an asshole, why do you have to make me cry?" She moved her hands as to wipe her face but Reid gathered the tears with his rough fingers. She rested her hands on his forearms. Reid leaned his head back on hers and broke the silence with, "I said I would have my way with you one way or another." She laughed her with exhaled breath. "Asshole." They were about to kiss when they got interrupted by Caleb. God damn him! "So what's it gonna be?" Caleb asked. "Yeah, I'm in," Reid replied. He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Good," Caleb commented and went back into the room to tell the others. "Good," Reid imitated Caleb and followed him. Browen shook her head and followed too.