“Did they charge me with anything?”
Keely shook her head.“Nope.We got you out of everything.Would have been faster if Officer Sweaty hadn’t been trying to get Malena’s number.”
“Nothing about the tire?”
Malena chuckled.“Keely took care of it.She’s stronger than she looks.”
My body folded in on itself.If the screwdriver had still been in the tire when Cockalorum came out and called the police, I was sure they would have been able to put two and two together.
We pulled into my driveway ten minutes later.Kissing my friends on the cheek, I slid across the seat.“Thank you so much for tonight.I wouldn’t have known what to do without you.”
Keely rolled her eyes at me.“Pshaw.Shut up, bitch.That’s what friends are for.”She blew me a kiss.“Now, get inside and make the most of your sleep-in tomorrow.And I’m keeping the screwdriver for your own safety.See you Monday.”
Shuffling out of the car, I slowly made my way to the porch.Once I’d managed to unlock the door, I waved, then stepped inside.I heard the car pull out of the driveway, and then silence engulfed me.
I slid to the floor, coming to rest on my butt with my back to the wood.
Suddenly wide awake, I took a shower and changed into my holey but comfortable sweats and a sweater that was so washed out I didn’t even remember what had once been written on the front.
Then I made cupcakes, followed by a half-chocolate, half-vanilla cake.Because Elana loved vanilla, and Addy loved chocolate.
Only then did I crawl into my cold bed and finally pass out.
Chapter six
“Canyoubuybabiesfrom the supermarket?”
I looked at Addy in the rearview mirror.Cockalorum had asked me to pick them up since he was too busy to drive them back.“No.They grow in bellies.”
“What if you make them?”
“But you do make them.In your belly.”
“I mean in a lab.”
“That’s not allowed.”
“Would you get in trouble?”
“For making a child in a lab?Yes.”
“But I wouldn’t be stealing a baby.I’d make it, and it would be mine.”
“Sorry, pumpkin pants, still not allowed.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and sat back with a harrumph.“But I want a baby brother.”
My arms jerked, and I barely avoided mounting the sidewalk.“You already have a baby sister.”
“Tammy said that she doesn’t want to grow a baby because it’s going to destroy her figure.So Daddy said she can have us.”
This time when I jerked my arms, I scraped my rims against the curb.
I didn’t get a chance to answer before Addy went on.“What’s a figure?”
I swallowed a few times, my mouth suddenly dry.“A figure is the shape of your body.”
We pulled into my driveway before she could ask any more questions.
