Page 72 of The Moment I Knew

“Skipped school?” he asked.

“Broken the law,” I said. “Ruined my academic future. Disappointed every adult who has ever loved me.”

He smiled, just a little. “Ah. First-time offender.”

We stopped at the exit. A teacher crossed in front of the car, coffee in hand, oblivious. I sank lower in my seat on instinct.

“Relax,” Cole said. “You look like you’re about to be arrested by the ghost of perfect attendance.”

“I had a streak,” I muttered. “Years.”

He smiled, just a little. “Don’t worry. It gets easier the more you do it.”

My fingers tapped against the coffee cup, nerves building in my chest. “I don’t think I want to do this again. In fact, I should just go in and be late for class.”

Cole slid a look at me, the car coming to a stop. “You can if you want to. I won’t stop you.” To punctuate his point, he hit the unlock button, the car doors clicking. I looked at the school, at the students sprinting in before they’re marked tardy. I could get out and do the same. I should.

Instead, I looked back to Cole with a smile. “Maybe one time won’t hurt.”

He grinned at me, then refocused on the road as he pulled ahead. He waited until we were fully on the road before speaking again. “You can still tell me to turn around.”

I didn’t answer right away. The school shrank in the side mirror, brick and banners blurring into something less important than it had been ten minutes ago. My phone buzzed in my pocket—probably Ainsley wondering why I never caught up with her—and I ignored it.

“Where are we going?” I asked instead.

“Thought we’d drive,” he said. “See what happens.”

The streets shifted from familiar to quiet. Houses spread out. Trees crept closer to the road. I rolled the window down an inch, letting cold air cut through the car, grounding me. I should have been freaking out. About attendance records. About Mum. About Dad.

Instead, I felt… light.

Cole reached into the paper bag and handed it to me at a red light. “Before you spiral.”

I opened it. There was a gingerbread loaf… and a chocolate cake pop.

“You planned this,” I said.

“Planned is generous,” he replied. “Hoped.”

I laughed despite myself, the sound surprising and too loud in the small space. “You realize this is a gateway crime.”

He snorted. “Skipping school leads to what, exactly? Armed robbery?”

“Don’t be dramatic,” I said. “It starts with this, then suddenly I’m dyeing my hair and calling teachers by their first names.”

“I’d pay to see that.”

“I’d get expelled. Immediately. Have to come join you losers at Northern.”

“It’s more fun there anyways.”

My phone buzzed again. I flipped it face-down in my lap without looking. Ainsley and I didn’t have first-period class together, so there was no reason for her to realize I wasn’t there, and I wasn’t worried about anybody else trying to get in contact with me right now. I was off the clock.

“So,” I said. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going, or is this a mystery-tour situation?”

He shrugged. “Depends.”

“On what?”