She barks again, and I have a feeling they'll get along fine.
"Be good for Céce," I tell Ellie. "No pulling on your leash." I give Céline a look. "She does that sometimes, and she's strong, so be careful."
"I might be old, but I'm as tough as they come. We'll be fine."
Everything about the journey to Atlantic City screamstry-hard.
From the hour-and-a-half drive in the luxury car with its fancy driver to the first-class ticket waiting for me at check-in at the airport. Thepodthe airline stewardess directed me to when I boarded was super freaking fancy, but paled by comparison to the private jet the guys took me on to Paris. If I'm not careful, a girl would get used to all this luxury…
The champagne was a nice touch, and even though my stomach was in no state to eat when I left the apartment a fewhours before, when they set the full-service lunch down on my table in the air, I couldn't help having a few nibbles.
Who knew airplane food could actually be decent?
But I know better than to be lulled into a false sense of security by any of it.
As soon as I take my phone off airplane mode, a slew of text messages from Maisie bubbles onto the screen. I tense as I skim the first few.
Maisie
OH MY GOD I heard about what happened! It's all over the news.
Is it true? Was it your car? Is that why you're not in class today?
I hope they catch whoever stole it. Fucking assholes.
If you need a ride to class or anything, let me know, okay?
Great. Going to be so fun dealing with that when I get back.
Aurora
Yes, it was mine, but I'm fine. Just pissed off. I'll let you know if I need a ride. You're the best!
When I'm off the plane and into the airport, I take a few minutes in the restroom before heading to the arrivals hall, where Linette has said she'll be waiting for me.
I flip down the lid of the toilet in the stall and set my carry-on atop it, unzipping the case with tingling fingers.
Then, like the guys explained to me, I take the bottle opener on my key ring and use it to pry open the Kindle I neededto pack. It's way harder than I thought it would be, and for a second, I panic, thinking I won't be able to crack it apart, but then I do.
I blow out a breath and separate the two halves enough to see the little tracker bugs and the listening device hidden inside. I know I'm wasting precious minutes and Linette is probably already wondering where I am, so I try to be as fast as I can.
One tracking device goes under the sole of my right boot. The other one I'm meant to tuck into the lining of my jacket, but I can't find the hole in the pocket, and I have to tear a new one with my teeth.
Okay, now the listening device. My chest is sweaty when I try to stick it low between my breasts, and I curse, grabbing a long strip of toilet paper to dab it dry and try again.
I press on it until it hurts, until I'm sure it won't fall off, and then pinch the Kindle back together, throw my keys in my pocket, and zip up the case, taking a minute to breathe.
They can hear me now, or at least they should be able to, so I try to panic very quietly.
It was too risky to bring the second phone, so I have to hope everything is working how it's supposed to.
I don't leave the stall until I've found that other version of me. The one I slipped into every time I was with Jesse or any of the assholes who came before him. The girl who could become whatever they wanted me to be. Once the mask is on, and I know there's nothing that will rattle it, I leave the bathroom.
There's a woman standing with a sign that says'Bellerose'amid rushing travelers. She looks ridiculous with her puffy blonde hair and frazzled, overlined eyes, but I grin at her like I don't notice any of that. As if I'm excited but also nervous.
"Hi," I hedge, interrupting the phone call she's on right now that distracted her from seeing me.
Linette blinks, and says, "I'll call you right back," hanging up the phone.
