“Just don’t kill me,” Lo says as we both buckle. “I’m too young to die.” He flashes his signature half-smile.
Ryke reverses the car, even with one hand on the wheel. He drives with much more precision than Lo, but Ryke succumbs to road rage the fastest out of everyone. In my opinion, it’s not a very good tradeoff.
Daisy chooses a song I vaguely recall, and I spot the title in the dashboard screen: “Dark Center of the Universe” by Modest Mouse. I bet it’s more of a “Ryke” song since she usually goes for the upbeat tunes and less angsty ones.
The moment Ryke shifts the car out of reverse, we go from zero to I’m-gonna-die. I wrap my arm around my belly and then clutch Lo’s leg.
“He’s gonna kill us,” I whisper-hiss to Lo.
He’s too busy watching the cameramen jump back into their van to reply.
“There aren’t any cops in twenty miles,” Daisy tells Ryke.
I frown. “How do you know that?”
She waves her cell. “An app.”
My daredevil little sister would have an app alerting her of nearby policemen.
“Bonnie and Clyde,” Lo says dryly, “we’re not robbing a bank. And really, I don’t want to know what gets you off. K, thanks.”
Ryke leans forward to look out the window. “Motherfuckers.”
Yep, they’ve caught up to us.
He steps on the gas, and my lungs suddenly rocket to my throat. “OhmyGodohmyGod.” This is like one of those theme rides in amusement parks—the ones where I end up peeing a little bit because I’m terrified of heights.
Only this is worse because Ryke is operating the machinery.
He slams on the brakes. “Hold on,” he tells us, the warning coming way too late.
I think I just peed. I check my crotch. Not that much. Thank God.
Lo clasps my hand while the van speeds ahead and Ryke swerves through the grassy median into the lanes going the other way. Now we’re headed in the opposite direction of the van. And the country club.
Daisy is not only smiling like this is the best experience she’s had all week, but she lowers the window and sticks her hand out.
They are really meant for each other.
“You both are insane,” Lo says matter-of-factly. “You shouldn’t worry about children because I don’t think either of you will live long enough to have any.”
Daisy mock gasps. “Too late. I’m already pregnant.”
“Cute, Calloway,” Ryke says, speeding up and pulling off the nearest exit so he can go a new way. He’s still speeding.
“Should we start praying?” I whisper to Lo. “Or maybe if we concentrate hard enough our teleportation powers will kick in and we can blink away.” I pause. That’s really selfish, leaving Ryke and Daisy to fend for themselves. “Or maybe we’ll be able to stop time.”
And that’s when a giant white Trailblazer merges into our lane and hits our Audi, crashing into the driver’s door and the one nearest Lo.
The side airbags pop and little bitty pieces of glass rain down on both Ryke and Loren, crunchy like gravel.
“Fuck,” Ryke curses. We must’ve been in their blind spot.
The seatbelt has dug hard on my belly, and I feel more wetness between my legs. I solidify, wondering if it’s something worse than just pee. Ryke has to pull over into a nearby gas station with the Trailblazer, especially since the Audi is driving strange.
“I think the wheels are fucking bent,” Ryke says. Daisy turns off the stereo and brushes some of the glass out of Ryke’s hair.
I should do the same to Lo, but my eyes are just too wide, transfixed on one issue. I open my legs and peer down, but I can’t see much since my leggings are black.
“Lil?” Lo says, worry edging his voice. I can’t move.
Ryke tries to open his car door, but it’s jammed. Daisy climbs out the Audi first, then Ryke crawls over the middle console and exits. I’m next.
I can’t move.
“Lily,” Lo forces my name and cups my face, turning it to him. “What’s wrong?”
“I either peed or…” My eyes burn.
Lo glances down at my lap. “You’re bleeding?”
“I don’t know,” I say in one tight breath.
He lifts up my sweater and tugs at the band of my leggings to peer down. After pulling at my panties, we both see a few droplets of blood.
“Lo…” I say, tears welling.
“It’s probably nothing…” But he already has his phone out, dialing a number. I’m guessing 911. He kisses my temple and then whispers, “Climb out. I’m right behind you.”