“Year?”
“Sixty-eight,” Adam says without missing a beat.
“Best year ever,” Lane adds. “No question.”
The sun is blinding as it bounces off the windshield.
“Never seen it around before.”
“Nope.” Adam shakes his head. “Must be a newbie.”
“The kind of guy who drives a car like that is definitely someone we need in our lives,” I murmur.
“So much beauty, it hurts.” Lewis slaps a hand to his chest.
We watch as the car cruises into a free space, straining for a glimpse of the driver. The car door opens.
“Holy fucking shit!” Lewis gasps.
“A girl?” Lane frowns. “Not a bad idea. A female Campus Driver could be good for business.”
Adam nods. “Totally. Get all the guy students hooked.”
“No way!” Lewis’s eyes are flashing. “A girl driver would be an absolute disgrace! A disaster. A caseload of potential trouble. Case closed.”
As he strolls off muttering, I exchange grins with the other two. Then my mind wanders back to my conversation with Carrie, and the smile slips right off my face.
17CARRIE
I remember my mom’s first therapy session like it was yesterday—I had finally managed to convince her to go. The shrink told her to buy herself a notebook and make a list of all her anxieties. Obviously, she never actually made that list in the end, but she should have. Maybe then she would have realized that all her problems could fit on a single Post-it.
In a single word, in fact: “Dad.”
Anyway. I’ve been using the shrink’s hack myself over the past few days, getting everything that’s bothering me down on paper. Turns out, it’s not that easy after all, mainly because it’s hard to figure out exactly what’s gnawing away at you—taking a feeling and pinning it to something tangible.
I can’t decide what pisses me off most—the fact that I’ve ended up with a list as long as my arm, or the fact that all the items seem to tie back to the same problem.Great!I’m turning into my mother. The very last thing I ever wanted for myself.
WOLINSKILLMENOW:Can we meet up today?
Speak of the devil…
I hold up a middle finger to the screen.God, I really have hit rock bottom, haven’t I?A sigh escapes me. I don’t have the headspace tofigure out whether I’m officially losing it—my brain is too busy circling over and over the same questions. Did Donovan get that coffee with Cheyenne, in the end? Did he have a good time? Did he kiss her? Why do I care?Fucking stop it!
I read through his message again. I feel like saying no. Actually, I feel like switching numbers, moving towns, and changing identities. But the truth is, I’m dying to know more.
CARRIE:Why?
I’m aiming for subtle. There’s no way I plan on asking him about Cheyenne directly, though it would make sense—just the kind of natural, obvious question a friend would ask without raising any red flags.No.I don’t want him to think I give a shit.
WOLINSKILLMENOW:I need a refresher.
I can feel my heart in my throat.
CARRIE:Which unit are you struggling with?
WOLINSKILLMENOW:I have an actual grown-up date tonight. At a restaurant. I need your help knocking it out of the park!
I read his message back over and over again, and every time, my breath catches in my chest.
