Mom&Dad:
SAMANTHA. ITS MOM. WHY ARE YOU IGNORING US.
its dad your mother is worried about the meese
I READ MOUNTAIN LIONS ARE MOST ACTIVE AT NIGHT
TEXT ME BACK.
ITS MOM
AGAIN
its dad your mother is worried about mountain lions
ARE YOU HYDRATING SAMANTHA
its dad your mother said there’s an avalanche warning
WE FOUND A FLIGHT TO COLORADO THAT LEAVES FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
WAIT HERES ONE THAT LEAVES TONIGHT
WAIT THAT GOES TO UTAH
HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO MONTANA
its dad your mother is looking up flights
My thumbs flew across the screen in panic, texting Mom and Dad back.
I’M ALIVE!
Just got cell service.
At resort now.
Everything fine.
DO NOT COME TO COLORADO.
I cycled through the other conversations, quickly administering damage control.
(to Marcus):
Ride to the resort was … something I’ll never forget.
(to Victoria):
Can’t wait to try everything
(to Parker):
OMG WTF TTYL
Approaching the front entrance, I must have looked like some kind of swamp creature emerging from the woods, because the valet jumped when he saw me. For a moment, he looked like he was trying to decide if he should call security or the National Enquirer.
“Samantha Li,” I announced, standing up straight and lifting my chin. “I have a reservation.”