“You are not running away from this. Spill. What happened in there?”
I slid into the driver’s seat, purposely ignoring her. She didn’t even bother trying to hide her frustration as she climbed into the passenger side, slamming the door hard enough to make a point. The car was quiet for half a second, and she started again.
“How do you know Chris Jones?”
“Idon’t,” I said quickly, too quickly. My voice cracked, making me sound even more suspicious. “I mean, I didn’t…”
Carol’s sharp eyes pinned me in place, and she wasn’t buying it.
“He knew your name.”
I swallowed, forcing myself to keep my eyes forward.
“Yes.” I was retreating into short answers, a habit I leanedon when I wanted to dodge uncomfortable questions, something my sister was all too familiar with.
The engine roared. I checked the mirrors and shifted into drive, my eyes glued to the road ahead, praying she would drop it. No such luck.
“How did he know your name?”
“I’m not sure,” I murmured because I wanted an answer to that question myself.
“What?” Her arms flailed in disbelief. “How? What did you guys even talk about in there?”
“We didn’t… talk much.”
Carol stared at me like I’d declared I’d met a unicorn.
“You didn’ttalkmuch?” She echoed. I knew she was seeing right through me. She knew me too well, and my flushed cheeks and avoidance were giving me away. Her eyes widened, a grin spreading as the realization hit. “Oh, wait! Did you make out with ChrisFuckingJones?”
“Shh!” I hissed and looked at Liam through the rearview mirror. He was blissfully immersed in his tablet. Thank God.
Carol leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“This is insane. That’s, like, next-level manifestation shit. He’s been your ultimate celebrity crush for, like, forever!”
“Twelve years, give or take,” I admitted with a sheepish smile.
“Did he find you online? Did he read something of yours?”
I shook my head, still trying to wrap my brain around everything.
“I don’t have anything online.”
That stunned her into silence. Briefly, of course. Carol glanced at my hands, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles were turning white. But then she caught something else—something she hadn’t seen in a long time. My eyes, usually tired and distant, had a glimmer ofsomething else. Happiness? Excitement? It had been ages since she’d seen me look like this.
“Are you going out with him?” She asked.
It took me a second, but I caved.
“Tonight…”
“Tonight?” She put the pieces together. “And who’s staying with the kids?”
I kept my eyes fixed on the traffic light ahead, letting my silence do all the talking.
“Oh, no,” Carol’s head snapped toward me. “I have a date tonight!”
I looked at her with my best puppy eyes.
