Double damn it. “Give them to me.”
“Ask me in Spanish. I know you can.”
Heat crept up my neck. “How?”
Her look said she doubted my intelligence. “The books. Neruda. Allende. Márquez. A beginner wouldn’t read those.”
The more she spoke, the more obvious it became—the melody in her voice, the faint roll of her r. I wouldn’t have noticed if not for hours listening to Asher whisper Spanish endearments. And her name. Alba. Dawn in Spanish. I should’ve known.
“You’re Spanish.” The fight drained from me, like daylight bleeding from the grounds outside.
“And you’re brave. And reckless. Probably smart because of the books, probably not because you’re trying to escape. What’s the plan? Walk down a country road in a skirt that barely covers your ass?”
“I have a change of clothes.” I slid the backpack off my shoulders, patting it. My spine sighed in relief without the weight.
“And then? Pray you make it to Oakwood Springs alive?”
She wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t about to admit my escape plan had more holes than Emmental cheese.
“It’s not that far.”
“Then what?”
“I’d spend the night in town. Then I’d call my…”
Shit. Not something I wanted to share. Not until she gave me more about herself first.
Alba sighed. “So this is all because of that stupid three-calls rule? You couldn’t talk to your boyfriend, so you’re ready to run without a plan? Hope he’s worth it.”
My throat tightened. “How do you know it was my boyfriend I wanted to talk to?”
Another sigh, like I’d asked the dumbest question. “Simple math. After a call, you’re happy. No call, and you squeezeEl Principito, staring out the window like you’re about to cry. If you wanted your father, you’d have told Sarah you were sick. She would’ve called him.”
“Wow.” I sagged against the door, clasping my hands behind my back. My backpack glared from the floor like it was asking,Are we going or staying?“That’s a lot of math from someone who leaves the room every time I walk in.”
Alba scooted over and patted the windowsill beside her. “Sit. I don’t bite.”
What was the worst that could happen? She’d already caught me. I crossed the hall and hauled myself up beside her, the only sill not crowded with plants.
Silence stretched. Then she said, “What you said at breakfast… that took guts.”
I shrugged. “I guess it touched a nerve.”
“How so?”
Her eyes were curious, not judgmental. “There was this guy at my old school,” I said. “Cornered me at a party, tried to kiss me. Probably would’ve gone further if I hadn’t kneed him in the balls and run.” I drew a shaky breath. “That wasn’t the worst part. My so-called friend had a crush on him. She didn’t believe me.”
My palms turned clammy. Asher was the only one I’d ever told. What if trusting Alba was a huge mistake?
Her green eyes locked on mine, steady even in the dim light. “When was that? Are you okay? Is that why you’re here?”
“November. Yes. And no.” I leaned back on my palms. “Officially, I’m here because I tanked the PSAT again and my dad wanted to ‘save’ my academic future. Unofficially, he just doesn’t want me around.”
She nodded like she knew the type. Maybe she did.
“Well.” She slipped her hand beneath her polo, fingers disappearing under the cotton. “You know nothing. You saw nothing.”
What the hell wasn’t I supposed to see?
