“I’m on my way.” I take one final glance around the room before hurrying to yank the door open.
“Thank you.”
“Is there anything I can do right now?” I ask, heading to the beaten-up truck I bought four years ago after saving my butt off. It’s so old it’s a miracle it hasn’t given up the ghost yet.
“No. Just hurry.” Rachel sobs. “I’m sorry to ask you on such short notice. I’ll pay for the flight and send you the address.”
“Don’t worry about anything. I’ll drive.” My breaths rush over my lips. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay,” she whispers. “Drive safely.”
I stop walking and shut my eyes. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Nova,” she squeezes the words out before she sobs again. “Please hurry.”
“I’m already on my way, Rach,” I tell her as I open the passenger door and haul the luggage onto the seat. Shutting the door, I rush to the driver’s side. “I’m coming.”
“Let me know when you’re close so I can notify security.”
“Okay.”
Rachel ends the call, and I drop the cell phone on my lap. Starting the engine, I glance around the area for other vehicles before I reverse out of the parking bay.
Thank God I paid up front for the motel room, so I don’t have to waste time settling the bill right now.
Worry for Rachel tightens its grip on my heart as I drive away from the motel. She’s been my best friend since our first day of elementary school. Besides my grandfather, whom I hardly get to see because he’s a grumpy recluse who doesn’t care about me at all, Rachel’s the only constant in my life.
Since moving to LA with her older brother, Easton, I’ve only seen her on the few occasions she’s come to visit me in Verona. Apart from seeing Easton on TV or in a movie, I haven’t laid eyes on him since they left.
God, it’s the first time I’m leaving Verona.
The realization suddenly hits, and it makes nerves spin in my stomach as I steer the truck onto the interstate. I glance in the rearview mirror at the only home I’ve ever known. My heart beats faster because I’m not just driving toward Rachel but away from a life that’s never been kind to me.
Reaching for my phone again, I quickly program Rachel’s address into Maps so I can keep an eye on where I need to go.
Looking at the directions, I notice the distance between Wisconsin and California is a twenty-eight-hour drive. That’s not including the time it will take to stop for gas.
My teeth tug at my bottom lip while I quickly do a calculation in my head. I should reach Rachel around lunchtime tomorrow if I don’t sleep and stop as little as possible.
Please, let me get to Beverly Hills in one piece without the truck breaking down.
After sending up the quick prayer, I settle in for the long drive. As I put one mile after another between Verona and me, I remember when I got a call from Rachel similar to the one I received today. I rushed over to the apartment she shared with Easton as if hellhounds were chasing me.
Barreling into Rachel’s bedroom, the words burst from me. “What’s wrong?”
Her face is blotchy with tears, and for a moment, I worry something’s happened to Easton. The last time I saw Rachel in such a state was the night we learned their parents died in a car accident.
Sobs make her body jerk as she cries, “I’m pregnant.”
Shock shuddering through me, I drop down beside her on the foot of the bed. “Oh God.” I wrap my arms tightly around her, and at a total loss for words, I comfort my friend.
After a few minutes, her voice is filled with fear as she admits, “I don’t know what to do.”
“We’ll figure out something.” I pull back a little, and using my thumbs, I wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Have you done more than one test? Are you sure?”
She nods and points at her dressing table. “I peed on three sticks.” Another sob bursts from her, then she whimpers, “They’re all positive.”
My mind races for the right thing to say. Not coming up with anything better, I mutter, “At least graduation is only two months away.”
