“So you took off?”
“I’d rather not be a part of what sends him back to rehab. Look, can you just call someone or something? I don’t know what to do.” I wasn’t about to start crying, even though the stinging of tears hurt like a blowtorch behind my eyes. I kept my head down and blinked them away.
“Hold on…”
I leaned on the neon flier-covered wall and wished for…well, what, I wasn’t sure. A caring boyfriend who’d know what to do so I didn’t have to call Milo all the time, like the pain-in-the-ass little sister he didn’t want. If Trish and my dad ever got serious, I could be on my way to having a stepbrother. Milo as my stepbrother. There was a chilling thought.
“Wow, that’s some slasher job.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you check the other side?”
“No, I didn’t feel like it, in case, you know, the anonymous psycho was lying in wait.” With the way my night was going, high chance that’s exactly what would have happened.
“Good idea. Do you have a spare in the trunk?”
“Let me think...yeah, I think there is.”
“I’ll come get you and call a tow truck on the way. We can bring your car home. I’m sure Sean can get it all fixed up as good as new himself. You don’t need the publicity, I’m sure.”
“Me?”
“Uh huh.”
I’d been thinking more of Dad’s side of things. Like crazed teenage model stalks B-list actor’s daughter. I’m sure I’d even make the top ten at ten o’clock on the news.
“Stay put. I’ll see you soon.”
And then, the phone went dead in my ear.
***
I walked back into the club itself, knowing it would take Milo almost an hour to get here in traffic. He’d text me the moment he reached the parking lot. The urge to have a drink hit me strongly, and I headed to the bar to order something nice, fizzy, and caffeinated.
I was on my third Diet Coke, thinking something stronger might just be in order while I watched the muscular bartender, Antonio—he’d introduced himself after my second drink—hand out drink after drink to the growing crowd of people crushing around the bar. No one seemed to care about the girl who kept jumping every time her cell phone seemed to vibrate on the shiny bar top, which happened more often than I’d ever imagined, thanks to the booming bass blaring over the speakers, combined with Antonio slamming down a drink nearby.
Finally, it buzzed for real, and I checked caller ID before clicking it on, amazed I actually had reception over here.
“Hello.”
“It’s me. I’m looking at the tires.”
Milo let out a low whistle that had me pulling the phone away from my ear.
“Warn me the next time you wanna do that.”
“Sorry. Look, I thought if maybe we combined both our spares and put them on, it would at least be drivable, but looking at the damage, I don’t know, Chey. You feel comfortable enough leaving the club to come out here?”
“You alone?”
“I didn’t bring a welcoming party.”
“There’s that sarcasm I know and love.” I took a final parting sip of my drink and pushed back from the bar. I slid a small tip towards Antonio, thankful I’d had his muscles to distract me while I worried about the slasher waiting for me just outside the back doors.
“I’m on my way. Can you meet me at the back entrance?”
“I’ll start heading that way, meet you there.”
I pushed the door open and walked straight into Milo’s waiting chest. At least, I was pretty sure it was Milo.
I looked way, way up.
Yup, definitely him.
“Thanks.”
He shrugged. “Mom would kill me if I’d left you alone out here.”
So nice to know he cared. Filled me with warm fuzzies just thinking about it. I walked beside him in silence. More people were streaming towards the back doors of the club, but no one seemed to notice the vandalized car.
“It doesn’t look random,” he commented.
“How can you tell?” I shivered in the warm night air. Fear must have gotten to me.
“No one else’s car was touched. If it were someone out having fun, you’d think they’d hit a few more around here.”
Right, I thought, looking around the packed lot. See, I figured. I was a walking target. Might as well get a bull’s eye tattoo.
“From the look of things, you pissed someone off big time.”
Great.
“Where was JT when this happened?”
“I told you, he was inside all night.”
We reached my car, and I handed him my keys so he could check the trunk and do whatever it was guys did when people found their tires slashed.
“Did you talk to your mom?” I leaned against my car door, watching Milo crouch down to inspect the damage with a mini-flashlight. I looked away, not liking the sight of shredded rubber.
“Thought it would ruin the mood,” he said, glancing up at me.
Trish and Dad had gone out somewhere together on what they termed a ‘not-date,’ but I knew better. And apparently, so did Milo.
“Good point.”
We opted not to sit in my car and wait for the tow truck, thinking that would be just a little too weird. So we sat in Milo’s instead and listened to the stereo. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat.
“If it was just one, I’d change your tire, but with only two spares and all four out of commission…” he said, breaking the quiet between us.
I nodded. “I didn’t take you away from Sorche, did I?”
“Nope,” he said rather abruptly.
Wow, that was harsh. “You two fighting?”
“No, she just had other plans tonight.”
I nodded, though I wondered how well I knew my new best friend. I mean, she wanted to be a model and here I was, a newbie, having Sor’s dream handed to me on a silver platter. That’d be enough to make any girl snap. Look at what it had done to Adriana.
Speaking of Adriana…
I glanced back towards the club, where it might still house a lovely little group of suspects. I had spotted Fiona in the bathroom—she could have done it; she’d likely do anything Adriana asked of her.
Adriana. The one who, the more I thought about it, seemed awfully more likely to be slashing my tires.
Before I could reach for the door handle and go back inside to see if the wicked witch with the slasher side was still in there, Milo started the ignition.
“There’s the tow truck. You stay here. I’ll talk to him and give him the address. See if we can get out of here without too much attention.”
Fingers crossed.
I sat there watching Milo talk to the guy, and then, the two of them headed off towards where my car was. Like that wouldn’t cause too much attention when a tow truck with a blinking light started backing up towards my car.
Before I even knew what I was doing, I had slid out of Milo’s truck.
29
I really had no idea what I was doing as I walked back towards the club, trying to stay close to the shadows instead of under one of the bright lights overhead that would no doubt shout ‘hey, Milo! I’m over here!’
I was almost to the back door of the club when it opened and Adriana stepped out. I think we both froze for a second as we saw each other. She came to her senses—limited that they were—first.
“Isn’t it past your bedtime, Wyoming?” she asked, her voice scathing.
I rolled my eyes, deciding to ignore her comment. Couldn’t she come up with any new material?
“Just coming outside to check on your handiwork?” I asked as Fiona came outside to join her. I noticed Adriana glance towards the darkened parking lot several times. I doubted she was out there to use her cell; she didn’t even have it in her hand.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Fiona butted her way into the conversation.
“Don’t tell me Adriana didn’t tell you wha
t she was up to tonight? Apparently, she thought I needed some new tires.”
Adriana crossed her arms. “You’re insane.”
“No, pretty sure that’s you, what with slashing my tires and all. But don’t worry, I managed to snap some great pics and video on my phone. TMZ will be so thrilled to run with the story.”
Okay, so that was a lie. I didn’t want anyone to know about this little disaster, but the look of doom on Adriana’s face right then was so worth a little lie.
“I’m sure it’ll be everywhere by this time tomorrow.”
“Huh?”
“What are you talking about?” More from Fiona, who looked a little uncomfortable about this whole face-to-face thing we had going.
“Oh, don’t worry about it, you can find out all about it online shortly.” I smiled sweetly and turned to go when Adriana grabbed a handful of my hair and gave it a great yank, pulling me back painfully. The sharp stinging on my scalp told me she’d managed to rip out some of my hair.
“You bitch!” she spat. “You aren’t going to hurt me.”
I caught myself from falling backwards and swung my hand out, connecting my palm with the side of her face. The first time I’d ever slapped someone, but damn, I had to admit this one felt good, even though my palm was stinging worse than anything I’d ever felt before. Hair rip included.
She released her grip on my hair as a pair of arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back. Then, Milo’s voice was in my ear.
“Come on, Chey. Don’t cause a scene. That’s the last thing you want. She’s not worth any more attention tonight.”
JT walked out of the back door then, phone in hand at the same time as mine buzzed.
Our eyes met, and he looked from me to Milo then the group in front of us.
“What’s going on? Where have you been, Chey?” JT asked as he neared.
“Spent a fascinating hour out her in the parking lot, staring at my four slashed tires…” I motioned behind us with my free hand as much as I could. Milo’s grip was unrelenting, like he figured I’d jump Adriana if given the chance.
Smart guy.
“What?” His eyes widened, and he turned to look back at Adriana.
“She’s crazy.”
“Again, I’m not the psycho who went at my tires with a knife.”
She lunged towards me again, but Milo took a giant step back, taking us both out of reach. JT stepped in between us, a look passing between him and Milo as we moved backwards.
Adriana glared at me as Milo pulled me further out of her reach, my feet barely grazing the pavement.
“That’s right. Run away, Chey,” she mocked, but her voice wasn’t as bitchy as normal. In fact, there was a definite wobble to it, like she was afraid of what tomorrow might bring.
I managed one last sneer and waved my cell phone tauntingly at her as Milo dragged me back to the safety of his truck.
***
“Milo,” I called after him as he headed back towards the garage.
No one was home, and for once, I was grateful for that fact. I didn’t want Dad to see the tow truck pull in with my awful-looking car behind it. It made a mind-numbing sight.
He turned back to me. “Yeah?”
I stuffed my hands inside my jean pockets, suddenly feeling a little overwhelmed. “Thanks.”
“S’okay.”
I looked at my car now nestled safely in the garage, not so sure I bought the okay. “Still…”
I chewed my bottom lip. I mean, if he hadn’t come to my rescue, I don’t know what I would have done. Calling Dad was so not an option, and I don’t think I would have thought of calling a tow truck on my own. I’d probably have ended up at that club ’til closing, trying to figure out what to do and too unnerved to go back outside on my own.
Now look at me.
I’d gone back and told Adriana off once and for all.
My car was tucked safely in the garage, and I could only hope Dad wouldn’t decide to take a good look around there ’til morning. Hopefully by then, I’d come up with a reasonable excuse as to why I needed four new tires, and why they looked like they did if he happened to see them.
Milo walked back towards me. “Look, it’s cool. Don’t worry about anything, okay? Now go on in, it’s getting late.”
I had the feeling he just didn’t want to have Dad pull up and find the two of us standing there talking after two in the morning.
I stood there, biting my lip for a moment.
“Sorche will be here any minute,” he reminded me.
Turned out he’d texted her when I’d gone back to confront Adriana, thinking I’d need someone to vent to.
“Thanks, Milo.” I cracked a small smile, fighting back the tears that stemmed from being just too overwhelmed as I stood up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I owe you one.”
“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t make it a habit.”
.”
30
We’d headed straight up to the rooftop patio the moment we got in the house. Even the height didn’t bother me, for once. I just needed some space and privacy to let me get over my meltdown. My hands had still been shaking when we’d let ourselves inside. Thankfully, Milo had his own key and had let us in.
I’d grabbed one of the oversize loungers near the empty fire pit and closed my eyes, clearly drifting off to sleep at some point, because I woke up to the sound of Milo and Sorche’s conversation from somewhere around me, but I kept my eyes closed.
“I’ve texted JT every five minutes since you told me what happened, and there’s been no response.”
Sor’s voice wafted towards me. Milo made almost a growling sound in his throat. There were a few more murmured words I couldn’t quite differentiate, and then, I smelled it...
Coffee.
I rolled over carefully, blinking my eyes open, and finding Milo’s jacket wrapped around me. The first hints of dawn were lining up over the city. Sorche and Milo sat on one of the loungers across from me, sipping coffee and watching me anxiously.
“You awake?” Sor asked uneasily.
I yawned. “Yeah.”
Milo got up and took a coffee from the nearby table and brought it over to me. “It’s extra strong.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed it eagerly and took my first long sip. The warmth made its way through my body, the brain-sleep fog combo I had going on slowly melting away. I blinked a few more times and pushed myself to sit up, still wrapped in Milo’s jacket. I leaned forward and set the coffee down by my feet.
Sheepishly, I set the jacket aside, but feeling the chilly air, I picked it back up and slid it on. “What’s going on?”
“Oh...”
Milo nudged Sorche, and I could tell my best friend was a little uneasy. Well, that was likely the understatement of the year.
She got up and crossed the distance between us, sitting down beside me. “Milo’s got someone coming by in a couple of hours to check out the damage.”
I felt a numbness hit me. Of course. I couldn’t hide the damage forever. Even I knew that deep down. Plus I needed to pay Milo back or the tow truck driver; I didn’t even know who paid for getting the car back here in the first place.
“Thanks,” I said, looking at Milo.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
I guess that was as good as it was going to get. I saw a look pass between them that I couldn’t identify.
Sorche cleared her throat, reaching behind us and picking up a soft fleece throw and wrapping it around our shoulders.
“I can’t get a hold of JT. I don’t know where he is or why he isn’t answering. Did he see what happened? Maybe he went after Adriana?” she asked, and I could detect a tinge of hopefulness in her voice.
“I don’t know. He could have,” Milo offered.
I remembered meeting JT’s gaze as Milo dragged me away and his words of I got this. So maybe he was trying to talk some sense into Adriana? I don’t know. I did know he never kept his phone regularly charged.
“Second i
ssue...”
“The bigger issue...” Milo corrected as he stood up. “I’m going to go pick us all up some breakfast. Chey, you need to eat. Sor...”
“I’ll be here.”
We watched him disappear down the steps, the door closing behind him. Sor sighed and retrieved her cell phone.
“Yours is still charging. I’ve got an extra power bank.” She motioned to the table where my phone sat.
Cruel Summer Page 33
