She huffs. “Fine. I need a proof-of-life pic.”
“I’m fucking talking to you. What more proof?—”
“Did you just yell at me? Your bestie?”
Shit. Frankie doesn’t do tears. Her cold silence is a thousand times worse.
“Sorry, babe. Hold on.” I take a quick picture, giving her a big smile. When I turn, Mom is right there, watching me.
“I— Bathroom,” she says and takes off.
I shake my head and focus on Frankie. “Did you get it?”
“Yes.” She lets out an angry-sounding breath. “Did that muscled brute hit you?”
I laugh. “No. It’s not like that.”
“Oh my God. Did you— I know you like that kind of thing, but letting him hit you in the face is not acceptable. Did you forget he’s your stepbrother?”
“Jesus, Frankie. He didn’t do anything. We were in a bar and?—”
“You went to a bar with him? The man you profess to hate? What the fuck is going on, Vivian?”
I take a deep breath. But I might as well be underwater for all the good it does me. “I really can’t talk right now. I’ll call you tonight.” And then I hang up, knowing I’ll pay for it later.
Everyone stares at me as I get in the front passenger seat. Mom has already returned and is in the back with George.
Jonah watches me, and I roll my eyes. “Can we just go, please?”
He turns on the van, and I stretch my neck, trying to get the kinks out.
“Was that your boyfriend?” Mom asks with a knowing smile. Thank God she doesn’t know shit.
Jonah shoots me a look that’s part question and part kicked puppy dog. What the hell? Is he seriously jealous?
“Why would you ask that?”
“You were taking selfies and calling him babe, so I assumed…”
I try to ignore the glare from Jonah as I turn to my mother. “It was Frankie. My bestie. We’ve been friends since elementary school.”
“Oh right. Frankie.” She sounds puzzled.
Jonah is still shooting me looks, and it takes me a minute to figure out why. He still thinks Frankie is a guy. He assumed, and I haven’t told him differently. It still doesn’t seem possible after all this time, but past me shared as little information as possible with my stepbrother.
And now, after three days on the road, I’ve shared too much of myself, including my darkest secrets and several bodily fluids.
“She’s looking forward to seeing you again, Mom. And meeting the rest of the family.”
“Frankie’s in San Diego? I thought she was in Kansas City?”
My entire focus is now on my mother. “We talked about this before we left home.”
She laughs, but it seems forced. “That’s right. Sorry, dear. My brain is a bit foggy from the p—” She stops and clamps her lips shut.
“Can we listen to music?” Dad says. “Maisy needs to take a nap.”
“No nap.” Maisy grips her dragon princess like she’s afraid someone will take it from her.
