We make a hard left, and it feels as though the passenger wheels leave the ground.
I’m no longer breathing. All my energy is concentrated on staying in my seat and not interfering with Ash’s ability to drive.
Eyes flicking back and forth between the rearview mirror and the road in front of us, Ash leaves the residential area at about seventy miles an hour and bursts onto a highway. We weave in and out of traffic, crossing lanes as though we’re in a video game.
This is crazy.
Ash downshifts to avoid rear-ending an SUV and then peers in the rearview mirror, as if to plan her next high-speed maneuver. “All good.” Her grip on the gearshift eases, the tension leaving her.
I look over my shoulder and don’t spot the men behind us.
Dropping back against the seat, Ash turns down the street we drove this morning. The one leading to the waterfront building where her cousin and his roommate live.
Within moments we’re sitting in their small back parking lot, completely out of view from the street because of the big factory building.
The river looks serene and quiet, but even if it was full of white caps, I wouldn’t hear the roar. Not because of the powerful motor still humming under the hood, but because of my own heartbeat banging louder than all the hundreds of cylinders and horses of the Camaro’s engine.
Ash scans the area. “We’ll give it a minute. I didn’t see them following us. Their sedan was halfway down the block.” She studies her manicure, as if wondering if she needs a new set. “And I drove away pretty quick.”
“You don’t say.” I’m surprised by my dry tone, but it’s as if her unconcerned demeanor has fooled my brain into thinking that nothing is out of the ordinary.
I’m not the only one surprised; Ash bursts out laughing at my response and then winks. “Still wanna spend the day with me, Sawyer?”
“I don’t know.” My tone is deadpan, but I’m questioning things. Taking a deep breath, I run my hands down my thighs, trying to rid myself of the shakes now that my brain has decided I’m not facing imminent death. “Who are you really? CIA Barbie?”
That makes Ash put her head back against the headrest as she laughs. “That settles it. Jamie can’t have you because you’re mine.”
My brows furrow as my heart finally remembers how to beat at a normal rate. “In all seriousness though, what’s the deal? Who were those guys?” I bite my lip. “If you’re a drug dealer or involved in something illegal, I can’t be a part of it. My family would?—”
“I’m not a drug dealer.” Ash rests a hand on my shoulder, and for some reason, I believe what she says. “And those guys are not after me. They’re looking for my friend. Who isalsonot a drug dealer.” She holds my eye. “No drugs."
I nod, signaling I accept that as truth. “So then, who were those guys?”
She drops her hand, looking out toward the river. “I’m not totally sure.” She sucks on her lower lip for a few seconds before shaking off her uncertain expression and navigating the car back onto the street. This time at speeds of closer to ten miles an hour. It’s quite a change. “The girl I was staying with said she was in some kind of trouble, but I don’t know the details.”
I watch Ash, noticing the way her brow furrows and her hands tighten on the wheel. “You’re not sure, but you must have a theory.”
Ash’s shoulders lift. “No, but those guys looked…” She cocks her head thoughtfully. “It’s possible they’re Russian Mafia from New York.”
Russian Mafia?!I continue to stare at her, unblinking. “What?”
“But don’t worry about it.” Pulling to a stop at an intersection, she looks both ways before moving forward again. “We’re not going back. The girl renting the house left town. She told me she was planning to.” Ash drops a hand to the gearshift. “Now that she’s gone, they’ll leave, too. So, all good.”
It doesn’t feel all good. It feels off. “If she was a student, how could she just leave town in the middle of term?”
“I don’t think she was enrolled this semester. She’s the older sister of a high school friend. I was sometimes crashing at her place because it’s off campus, so I could use my car.” Looking over at me, she inclines her head for emphasis. “We weren’t close.”
We drive in silence. Part of the reason I like Ash is because she’s so refreshingly different from everyone I know. On the other hand, I can’t afford any guilt-by-association connections. During the short ride, I watch the passing houses as I battle myself over whether to pull back from the friendship.
Ash parks beside the local coffee shop, Espresso Yourself. Turning to me, she flicks her hair over her shoulder. “I’m gonna run in and grab us both a pumpkin spice latte. We earned it.”
Still processing the surreal events of the past hour, I stare at her.
Finding me speechless, she winks at me. “Be right back, Seesaw.”
“Wait.” I shake my head, ridding my mind of all the things that I can’t figure out. “What did you call me?”
“Your nickname.” She tilts her head, looking one hundred percent like a typical pretty college student and nothing like the death-defying stuntman from fifteen minutes ago. “Cranberry Sauce is too long. C-Sau for short. It’s better.” Without waiting for a response, Ash climbs from the car and heads into the coffee shop.
