“Boomer!” Asha whined when she saw the pictures were gone. “I totally hate you.”
He grinned, obviously not concerned about her newfound feelings, and poked her on the nose. “Just trying to contain the crazy.”
“I’m not crazy,” she snapped. “Just because I’m passionate about something you’re not doesn’t mean you can make fun of me.”
His face softened. “You’re right. That wasn’t nice of me, and I’m sorry.” He reached out as if to comfort her, but his hand changed direction at the last second, and he picked up his Game Boy instead. “But Felicity is right too, Asha. Posting pictures like that isn’t cool. There’s nothing wrong with being passionate, but maybe you should take it down a few levels. Otherwise, you’re going to freak the dude out, okay?”
Asha blew out her cheeks. “Yeah, okay.”
“Sorry for the holdup, but I…er… Is everything all right?”
We turned in unison at the sound of Alec’s voice. He stood at the end of the couch, a small suitcase at his side. Instead of answeringthe question, Boomer coughed and tugged on his collar while Asha stared at the carpet.
I jumped out of my seat. “Yup,” I blurted. “Everything’s totally fine.”
Alec focused on my friends and said nothing. I waited for him to give me a sign that the Skype call hadn’t made things weird between us.
He didn’t.
“Why don’t we head out?” Boomer suggested when our silence lapsed into awkwardness. “We’ve got a lot of road ahead of us.”
The trip down to the car was quieter than the journey up to Alec’s apartment because this time there was no happy whistling from Asha. There was a tightness to the air. I could feel it as we walked—a strand of energy as taut and sharp as barbed wire, rigidly knit between me and Alec. I wanted to reach out and karate chop it with my hand. All I had to do was open my mouth and say something, but I couldn’t think of the right words, and so our footsteps echoed through the deserted garage.
When the Cadillac came into view, Alec unlocked the doors with a click, and I wondered if the entire drive would be this uncomfortable. I didn’t know how much longer I could stand it.
Thank God for Asha and her love of the Heartbreakers.
“So, Alec,” she said as she pulled her door shut. “I’ve been dying to ask you…” And then she dove into a series of questions about the band and their music. Alec seemed happy for the distraction, which helped ease my nerves. I settled into my seat as he backed out of his parking spot, and for the next few minutes, I was content with listening to their chatter.
Then I realized we were going in the wrong direction.
“Um, Alec?” I said, sitting up straight. “Not to question your navigational skills or anything, but isn’t the highway the other way?”
“I was going to take US 101 through Malibu instead.”
“Isn’t the I-5 faster?”
“Yeah,” he admitted, “but this way is less stressful. More scenic. Not as many big trucks and traffic. Do you mind? I promise I know where I’m going. I used to drive this route all the time.”
For the first time since the Skyping disaster, Alec smiled. It was no more than a brief upward curve of the lips, butGod, how quickly it melted my worry. Suddenly, I didn’t care how we got to San Francisco, just as long as we did. Because I was with my two best friends. I was with Alec.
And I was on my way to finding Rose.
Chapter 9
We were thirty minutes into our drive, and everyone had settled in for the long haul. Asha and Boomer were in the backseat watching a movie on a tablet he’d borrowed from his dad. Alec and I hadn’t spoken much, mainly because he wasn’t one to start conversations, and for the time being, I was content with watching out the window. It wasn’t until we passed a white mail truck that I thought of Rose’s letters.
“Oh!” I sat forward to grab my bag. I’d packed the bundle with the intention of reading the rest on the bus. The stack of letters was in no particular order, so I started with the one on top.
December 26th
Dear Felicity,
Yesterday was my first Xmas without you and Mom. I did all our favorite traditions, like make chocolate snowballs, watch Elf, and listen to “Jingle Bell Rock” on repeat until my ears bled. I decorated my apartment with some garland I found at DollarDiscount, and even put up a miniature tree. But it’s not the same. Without anyone to celebrate with, I wasn’t in the Christmas spirit. On the upside, my neighbor invited me to a New Year’s Eve party, so at least I won’t be spending the entire holiday season alone.
I know this shouldn’t count as a letter because it’s so short, but I don’t have the energy to write much else at the moment. Heart you more than Starburst and salsa.
xoxo,
