“You mean, she thinks …?” I yank at my tie, feeling choked by what Bill is telling me.
“Yes.”
No, no, no.I toss my rumpled coat into the passenger seat and fly in reverse out of the parking spot. Bill, Maria, and I exchangea few words before we hang up, and I immediately call Missy. With no answer, I dial Ji’s number and start driving to her and Missy’s house, but when Ji informs me that Missy’s gone to purchase The Red Curtain, I quickly make a U-turn and head straight for downtown Pine Lakes.
I feel a burst of panic. The interview. The hurt in Missy’s eyes. My heart aches, wondering what she must think of my actions. I press the gas pedal harder, knowing that every second I wait is another moment Missy has the wrong idea. I’d assured Missy before I kissed her that I was real. We were real. But then I’d said those things in the interview.
I’m an imbecile. Unintentionally, but still an imbecile.
As soon as I’m downtown, I turn into the parking lot right next to Pine Lakes’s Main Street. Despite its several rows of parking spaces covered by overarching oak trees, there is not an open spot to be found. I circle the lot once, then twice, then look next to the parking meters on Main Street, but every spot is taken. Why today of all days?
My fingers tap relentlessly on the steering wheel, drumming out my growing anxiety, but my nerves get the best of me. I slam on the gas and drive up and over a curb, parking on an open spot of grass, only to instantly regret it.
Blue-and-red lights flash in my rearview mirror. “Not today,” I grumble.
The police car behind me gives off a whooping sound, one that says “you’re busted.” Two familiar officers step out of their cruiser, and I hop out of my own car, putting up my arms, just to appease Officer Childs, who, despite his name, is about as old as the Pine Lakes City police station. He was notorious in high school for detaining seniors on senior skip day. Next to him, I recognize Steve Kiffer, a gangly, red-haired wisp of an officer who I went to school with, and who, two and a half hours ago, had “Team Teal” written across his forehead in bright teal paint.
“Hey, Colton,” Steve says, looking a little starstruck despite the fact that we ate crayons together in preschool. “How’s it been being back from the show? Did you catch a parasite? I’ve heard that happens sometimes. Oh, and I’ve always wondered, I read online that each of the contestants onSunsets and Sabotageare given a therapist because when they get home, they don’t trust anyone anymore. Also, there was one point where you were being filmed while you were in the jungle, and there was a massive spider just inches away from walking off a tree and onto your shoulder. We were all shouting at the screen for you to move, but you just kept pouring water on your head to get your crazy hair to go down.”
Officer Childs clears his throat and Steve instantly straightens, crossing his arms over his chest and pressing against his biceps, giving them a minuscule lift. All the while, I can’t help but think of Missy. The show hadn’t given us therapists, but it also hadn’t helped in the trust department, something Missy was already struggling with when we got to the island.
I’ve got to get to her.
“Colton Downing.” Officer Childs’s stern voice pulls my attention back to him. But despite his intimidating tone, his wide brown eyes and handlebar mustache make me feel like I’m being addressed by Mr. Monopoly. “Are you aware that you’ve just parked in a no-parking zone, and that to park in said space is a violation of our city laws?”
I look down at the grass beneath my feet. “Uh, yes. I’m aware,” I say slowly, lowering my arms to my sides.
Officer Childs carefully reaches for the taser on his belt, as if I’ve just confessed to a murder and not parking on a dying lawn. I refrain from rolling my eyes.
“And are you or are you not aware that you were driving thirty-five in a twenty-five zone?” Officer Childs’s mustache ticks upward. He’s enjoying this far too much.
For a moment, I glance behind me, spying the brick exterior of The Red Curtain.
“I’m sorry, are we wasting your time, Mr. Downing?” Officer Childs says.
“No. Sorry, Officer Childs. But, you see that building there.” I point to The Red Curtain. “There is someone inside that building right now who I desperately need to talk to.”
“It’s Missy, isn’t it?” Steve says.
“Kiffer, stay focused,” Officer Childs scolds.
“I just need five minutes, and then I will come right back here, and we can talk this through. I’ll pay the parking fine. You have my word,” I promise.
Officer Childs purses his lips, unsatisfied.
“You can even take me back to the station if you need to,” I throw in.
With that, Officer Childs smirks, likely daydreaming of getting to throw someone behind bars for the first time in his career.
I step back from the cops and closer to The Red Curtain. Closer to Missy. I am so close to righting a terrible wrong, and I can’t stop now.
“Colton Downing, we are not done here,” Officer Childs warns as I inch away.
“Yeah, stay where you are,” Steve stammers, matching Officer Childs’s pose with both hands resting on his belt.
I don’t have time for this. Impatiently, I glance at The Red Curtain only to fixate on something I hadn’t seen before. A familiar copper Aston Martin is parallel parked right outside the building. It’s Dad’s car.
My mind spins, conjuring all the reasons he would be at The Red Curtain right now, and I don’t like any of them. With one last look at the officers, I make a split-second decision.
