Chapter 6
Chapter six
Rose
Isprint to my car, barely missing the torrential downpour. Slamming the door shut, I toss my purse onto the passenger side, and it’s not until I sink into the seat that I can finally breathe.
My mother is missing, and just like before, Cal and I can’t get along.
I yank the seatbelt across my waist and fasten it with a sharp click. “Get it together,” I mutter to no one, because apparently, I’ve started giving myself pep talks now.
The car roars to life, and outside, the rain slams against the windshield in heavy sheets, blurring the world into shades of gray.
And yeah, maybe I should’ve ridden with Cal.
But honestly, it’s probably for the best. I’m sure his car smells like him, and I’m not emotionally stable enough to handle that right now.
But ultimately, there’s another reason I have to be alone.
Maggie.
Look, I know Denny said (more like demanded) for me to limit contact with her, but she used our code word.
Orange Crush.
This was always the word we would use in any conversation if we needed the other’s help. Or we wanted to talk privately.
Once, she was out on a date with a complete loser. Those two words appeared on my phone screen in a text from her. I knew exactly what to do. So I called her, my voice full of fake fear and panic that Mom was in a car accident. I had just given her an excuse to leave the dreadful date.
You know, lies like that.
As soon as she said it, I knew she wanted to talk privately.
Cal’s cruiser appears behind me, so with ease, I pull out of the station and onto the road. The wipers whip back and forth as the rain pounds the windshield hard and fast, blurring my view as they struggle to keep up.
Once I’m at the light, I pull up Maggie’s number on my dashboard screen and hit call.
It rings only once. “Rose, what the heck is going on?” Her high-pitched squeal fills my car.
“I don’t know, Maggie. The note Mom left me had your name on it, and of course that raises some questions.
” The light turns green, and I pull ahead as standing water causes my car to hydroplane slightly.
I pause, gripping the steering wheel, swallow, and ask what I don’t want to ask.
“Maggie, why would Mom put that in the note?”
“I have no idea, and I wish I knew, Rose. I really do. You believe me, right?”
“That’s a dumb question, of course I do. But Mom wrote that for a reason. I just really want to know why.”
“Me too.”
“I’m only trying to understand it all. Why did she want to apologize? You guys made up after the car accident, so it’s not that.” I’m rambling. “My mom was there the night of the fire. They showed me a picture.”
“Wait. What?” A deep inhale follows the question. “They showed you a picture?”
“Yeah. Did you know? That mom was there?” I haven’t the foggiest idea if I’m supposed to divulge this, but, come on. This is Maggie. My cousin. My best friend and my family. We tell each other everything.
There’s a long stretch of silence, and I faintly hear rain falling. “I suspected.”
I gasp, trying to keep my cool since I’m driving in a monsoon. “What? Maggie, why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I only thought it could be a possibility, and it doesn’t really matter now. It won’t bring them back.” She sniffles.
“I’m sorry to dredge all this up.”
“It’s okay.”
“Are you out with Katerina?” I ask, trying to change the subject. Again.
Cheering Maggie up. It’s what I do best after all. Besides, I couldn’t imagine being in a foreign country for the first time, and this is what I would have to deal with.
“Ummm … no, I left. This is all too stressful. Plus, the jet lag has finally hit.” She pulls in a tight, shaky inhale. “Do you trust this Cal?”
With the mention of his name, I glance in the rearview mirror, and he’s gone. We must have gotten separated. Which is fine with me. He wasn’t in the car with me, but he was too close. It felt like he was listening.
I stop at a red light as the wipers do little to help with my vision. Her question startles me. “I mean, I guess so. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Think about it, Rosey Posey. You shadowed him last year. Did he know about the fire? He had to know, right? He never thought to mention that. And if he maybe knew Aunt Diane, did your name come up? I mean of course it did! I’m sure they looked into your mom.
Her past and family relationships. He maybe should have mentioned all of this, don’t you think?
Seems shady if you ask me. Why did he withhold all of this from you? ”
Huh, I hadn’t thought of that. Maggie is right. And how much did he know about me on a personal level last year?
Doubt slithers under my skin.
Maggie continues. “Please be careful, Rose. Something’s off about him. Then add in how he treated you the last time. I dont know … just some food for thought.”
“You’re right. And he’s still being super combative. He doesn’t want me here. At all.”
“See.”
I was, so clouded by everything that I didn’t think about any of this. He may be the most infuriating handsome man I have ever met, but that doesn’t mean I should trust him. “Thanks for always having my back.”
“Ride or die. Always.”