Page 75 of The Fast Lane
“Yes. I’ll throw it away.” His eyes gleamed with humor. Which was also annoying.
“Nope.” I stared at the number, smiling like an evil queen in a fairy tale. “I have plans for this number.”
Theo dropped his head and shook it, but I still saw the smile he tried to hide. “Ali.”
“Theo.”
“Don’t do anything crazy.”
“Pffsht, whatever.” I folded the slip of paper and stuffed it in my bra. “Now let’s finish shopping.”
Theo stepped closer and leaned in, so his mouth was an inch from my ear. His breath was warm against my skin when he spoke. “You aren’t jealous, are you?”
Ignoring the zing racing down my spine, I smacked him on the shoulder. “You wish, Theodore. You wish.”
THIRTY-ONE
Note to self:
Don’t forget to text Tammy in a couple of days.
After three false starts—once because Hallie decided she could not leave her four Barbies alone for a week, we finally hit the road. When Theo informed him of our Vegas detour, Mack seemed more than happy with the change of plans if his exclamation of “Vegas, baby!” was anything to go by.
I’d been relegated to the third row, surrounded by several boxes of wedding décor, a bag of Hallie’s stuffed animals, and Theo’s tent so that Abe and Hallie could have the middle row. This suited me just fine because I had a little business to take care of. I settled in for a fun game I called TAMMY WILL REGRET THIS. Using a free internet phone number (it came in handy) and pretending to be a bot, I texted a certain motel employee:
Unknown number: Hook, Line, and Sinker: Thank you for signing up for America’s premium fishing tackle monthly subscription service. Reply Y to agree to the terms and receive automated marketing txts. Msg&DataRatesApply. STOP to stop.
I tapped my fingers on the seatback in front of me, waiting for a reply. Karen’s head popped up from her spot between Hallie and Abe, two people she had decided were worthy of her affection. Me, though? Oh, no. She pierced me with dark, angry eyes and growled.
“Why do you hate me?” I whispered.
Karen’s reply was to stick her nose in the air and disappear. My phone buzzed.
Tammy: I never signed up for any service
Unknown number: Hook, Line, and Sinker: You are now subscribed. Congrats! Your first tackle box will ship out in 5–7 business days. Each box always includes premium live bait such as nightcrawlers, waxworms, or maggots, plus a surprise to make your fishing experience more enjoyable. All shipped directly to you. To upgrade your box or see photos, please see our website. Happy fishing. Reply STOP at any time to opt out. Reply HELP for help.
Tammy: omg stop
Unknown number: Hook, Line, and Sinker: You are now subscribed. Congrats! Your first tackle box will ship out in 5–7 business days. Each box always includes premium live bait such as nightcrawlers, waxworms, or maggots, plus a surprise to make your fishing experience more enjoyable. All shipped directly to you. To upgrade your box or see photos, please see our website. Happy fishing. Reply STOP at any time to opt out. Reply HELP for help.
Tammy: STOP STOP STOP
I didn’t reply. At least not yet. Now was the time to let her relax and think she’d won before crushing her spirit in a day or two. Grinning, I set my phone down and cracked my knuckles like any genius mastermind. I was good. I was really good.
Of course, I’d had a lot of years of practice.
It started in the second grade when, while at recess, I saw Josh Metcalf push Melody Sinclair off the swings. Josh had always been a bully and it had only gotten worse as he got older and bigger. He seemed to especially relish picking on Melody. I liked Melody. She was a little shy, but real smart.
I don’t know if it was stupidity, pure anger, or growing up with three big brothers, but I marched right over, balled my fist, and socked Josh right in the eye.
He’d bawled like a baby, and I got suspended for two days. Mom had caused such a scene at the school, demanding to talk to the superintendent and all, that Dad had to leave work in the middle of the day to intervene. But I hadn’t budged, even when the principal agreed to walk back the suspension if I showed some remorse.
I refused to apologize. It wasn’t fair when people got away with doing the wrong thing.
That evening, Dad had sat me down and explained that hitting someone out of anger was never the way to solve a problem.
“But he pushed her first,” I’d said.