PROLOGUE
I open the car door, begging entrance into a world of speed and carelessness. I’ve always done things by the book. Tonight, I want to be reckless.
It could be the liquor talking, but I don’t care.
“Where are we going next?” Luke turns up the stereo. All the way up to the point your eardrums try to close in protection of the onslaught of erratic beats and heavy metal.
“Anywhere you want, baby bro! Tonight I feel like flying!” I bang my head on the doorframe as my butt falls hard onto the passenger seat of his Mustang. I raise my hand to the spot that should hurt but surprisingly doesn’t.
Luke shakes his head and laughs. “You’re gonna feel that in the morning. You’re numb drunk.”
I twist my face and think about how drunk I possibly am.
Do I know where I am?Yes. I am in Luke’s car.
Where did we just come from?The bar?Yes. The bar.
I’m not too sure how many drinks I had. My guess is three, four, seven . . . wait.
My mouth pulls in and my throat clenches as I release a warm air belch – the quiet kind that leaves a liquor aftertaste in your mouth.
Positive assessment: I am drunk. That is why my baby brother is bringing my ass home.
“Drive.” I order.
“Yes, ma’am!” Luke salutes me and puts the car in gear.
When you live in a rural town, driving at night can be dangerous. With dark winding back roads and the only light coming from your own vehicle, you have to proceed with caution.
Not tonight.
“Let’s run the night!”
Luke changes gears and we zip down the roads he knows like the back of his hand.
“I like drunk Emma!” he shouts over the music, and I just close my eyes and smile.
I like drunk Emma, too.
Sober Emma does everything right. Practices every day. Follows the rules. Dates the right boys.
Boys. Fucking boys.
I almost forgot about the douche who broke my goddamn heart. I spent the entire day torn up over him. I wasted years of my life being there for him.
And then he left me.
Just. Like. That.
“Faster!” I hear the words pour out of my mouth but don’t actually feel my lips move.
“Really?” Luke asks.
I open my eyes and look over at him. My eyebrows scrunch close together and give my best stare down. “Faster!”
With a lead foot, Luke drives. Rapid, thoughtless, and uninhibited.
The heavy bass shouting through the sound system makes the car vibrate and my pulse race. I hear Luke sing along. My mind is a rush of adrenaline and my fingertips rise above my head and then out the open window. The passing wind makes me feel alive and wild.
