Emma
“Carley picking you up?”
“Yes.” He’s followed me off the plane and out the main doors of the airport. Now, I’m standing at the curb waiting for my best friend to pick me up.
“Mind if I catch a ride with you two?”
I’d love to roll my eyes at him, but I’m too tired. Not to mention the fact that he hasn’t left my side since the layover in Chicago’s O’Hare airport. That was two hours of him sitting silently next to me, periodically offering to buy me coffee or food. He’s wearing me down. “You should call an Uber or better yet”—I point to the line of taxis—“take a cab.”
“I’d rather catch a ride with you, thanks.”
I’m too tired to argue. Literally. I’m exhausted from the flights and the shortest trip to New York City in history, but mostly I’m emotionally drained. This thing with Eli has sucked all the energy out of me. All I want to do now is sleep. “Fine. I’ll ask her when she drives up.”
Carley’s tiny blue car comes to a stop in front of me, and I watch as she leans over to peer out of the passenger-door window. Her brow arches and I know what that’s about as I’ve texted her about everything. And I meaneverything. When I open the door, she asks, “What’shedoing here?”
“Following me.”
“Ah.” She nods and sits up in her seat.
“Can I have a lift back to my place?” the jerk asks.
“No.” Surely Carley isn’t going to let him—
“Sure.” She smiles at him. “Jump in.”
“Carley?” I whine. “No.”
“It’s twenty minutes. Thirty tops. It’s not going to be a problem.”
I growl as I slide the seat belt over myself and snap it into place. She’s supposed to be on my side. As Carley pulls away from the curb, I reach to turn up the music. Not that it’s a good song or anything since Carley has the worst taste in music, but I figure if it’s loud, he won’t try to talk. My plan was working. I saywas, because for some insane reason, the second she’s got a chance, Carley pulls the car off the road into a field that probably used to grow corn, but because it’s winter it’s got nothing but dirt. After slamming the car into Park, she shuts off the radio, and turns in her seat to face Eli.
“Why the fuck did you ghost my best friend, you asshole?”
I peek back and see Eli start to respond, but Carley’s not having it. “She flew halfway across America to visit your sorry ass, and you treated her like dirt. I swear, I have half a mind to grab my tire iron and beat you with it, you arrogant prick. She’s in love with you, asshat, and this is how you treat yourgirlfriend? Seriously. Who does that? Oh, I know, pricks like you, Eli Baxter.”
“I––” Eli attempts to speak but Carley’s not having it.
God, I love her.
“You must have some massive balls to think you can just stroll over to my car and ask for a ride.”
“I––”
“Guess what, I’m not taking you anywhere. Get out.”
Eli’s starting to look a little stricken. The spot she’s parked is sort of desolate. There’s nothing for miles around. I believe there’s an old farmhouse off in the distance. “Here?” His voice sounds sort of squeaky.
“Here.”
“Really?” He points downward. “Here.” When he looks up at me, I can see he’s worried.
“Right. Here. Get. Out.” Carley isn’t letting it go.
I have no words except I hope she’s only teasing him. Even though I’m mad at him, I don’t want him stranded in the middle of nowhere.
“Fine.” Eli pushes his door open and slips out.
I hear the door slam shut and then Carley races out of the lot, leaving a trail of dust in her wake. “That fucker,” she mutters as she hits the gas.
