Rose hugged me and said, “Lily, I was planning to pick you up and take you for a pedicure.” She pulled back and looked down at my hands and added, “Yeesh, and a manicure. We’re finally together in the same town and can hang out just like real sisters. No more FaceTime, no more emails. We’ll do lunch at least once a week, drink wine, get our nails done, pick out date clothes, talk about boys...”
I laughed and hugged her back. “That sounds wonderful, Rose.” I looked over at Violet, who was grinning at us and shaking her head.
“Get out of here. Go get beautified with Rose and have fun tonight, Lily. Tomorrow, I’m going to be all big sisterly and demand details. And since I’m letting you both out of here early, you’re gonna spill itall.”
Rose tossed my purse to me, and I tossed my apron to Violet.
“Send the boys back in,” she called out.
“Are you nervous?” Rose whispered after I shut the door of her blue Beetle and fastened the seat belt. She started the car and turned out of the parking lot.
“A little bit. We almost had sex last night. What if he’s disappointed? I’ve had two kids. I’m different.”
“Pshhh, shut up. You’re not different. And even if you were, one of those kids is his, so if anything happened to your hootenanny, it’s half his fault anyway.”
“Hootenanny? You’re a nut. I didn’t mean physically, but now that I’m thinking about it...” I shook my head.Focus, Lily. You don’t need more to worry about. “I meant it’s been years. What if we don’t have chemistry anymore?”
“Didn’t you text me to tell me you dry humped each other in his office? Dry humping means you have chemistry. If you can get off with your pants on, you’ve still got it.”
I laughed instead of answering. Dry humping was such a ridiculous phrase.
“Want to go to Becca’s salon to get our nails done, or do it at my place?” Rose asked.
“Your place,” I answered.
Rose stopped at the red light, lost in thought.
“It’s green, Rose,” I said, and she stuck her tongue out at me before she moved through the quiet intersection. “It’s deserted in town today. Where is everyone?”
“Work. Not everyone is lucky enough to get summers off like us. Becoming a teacher was the best idea I’ve ever had. Deep inside, I’m just a big kindergartener anyway. Plus, I’ve always wanted to be Ms. Frizzle.”
I laughed, then I noticed a small yellow car speed through the newly turned green light and switch lanes to head right for us.
“Shit!” Rose yelled. “Hold on.” Rose hit the gas and swerved to the side of the road, narrowly avoiding a head-on impact. I turned around in my seat to look, sure I’d seen that car before. Racking my brain, I tried to remember where I had seen the lemon-yellow old model car. The driver slowed down, then made a clumsy U-turn in the road.
I yelled at Rose, “He’s turning around! Go, go, go!”
Rose floored it but the driver still managed to bump us from behind. Rose and I both screamed as her Beetle jolted forward from the impact. She sped up and switched lanes to avoid another collision. The yellow car sped up as well and tried to sideswipe us, but Rose was faster and pulled ahead before he could hit us again. I looked nervously behind us as we sped crazily down the road.
“Oh, hell no. I just bought this car!” Rose shouted as she punched the gas, shooting us forward.
I gripped the handle tighter and tried not to panic. Dad said a clear head in a crisis would prevent—oh my gosh—I didn’t remember what it would prevent, but panicking was bad anyway. I took a deep, shaky breath and looked at Rose. She looked pissed.
“I’m headed for the police station. Call Dad. Or Cade. Or nine-one-one. Shit, just get your phone out, Lily, and call for help.”
I forced my fingers to let go of the handle and unzip my purse. My phone wasn’t there. I jumped in my seat as Rose’s phone rang in the console. A quick glance showed my picture on the screen with “Wonder Twin” spelled out above it.Huh?I picked it up and answered.
“Missing something?” a deep voice asked. I spun in my seat and saw the driver of the truck had a phone to his ear. He was so close behind us that I could see that it was in a bright pink case just like mine. How did he get my phone? When did I misplace it? I felt a chill run through my body. Had he been near my kids?
“Who are you? What do you want?” I managed to squeak out.
“I need the files. It’s probably on a thumb drive. You’re not helping. Look through your stuffand find Will’s files,” he growled. “Consider this a warning.” He threw my phone out the window, slowed down, and made another U-turn, then careened off in the opposite direction, disappearing from our view.
I let out a trembling breath.Just what in the heck was going on? “Pull over, Rose. Whoever that was just threw my phone out his window. Let’s go get it.”
She pulled to the side of the road. We were just lucky we weren’t on the highway. Someone could have gotten hurt. I ran over and picked up my phone. Rose jogged to my side as I swiped the screen. It still worked. Not a scratch on it.
“Holy shit, it still works,” she said.
