Lucy
What do you think it means?” Reya and Lucy sat at opposite ends of her bed, cross-legged and facing each other. It was the communication position they’d adopted since they were little, whenever one had news that required a huddle.Meeting of the minds,Reya called it.
Lucy stared at the note resting on her bedspread between them. They’d gone over it again and again. “I don’t know. If Jep really loved her, why would he be asking her not to tell?”
“And what is the secret he doesn’t want told?” Reya wondered aloud.
Lucy had recoiled when Reya suggested maybe Ella was pregnant. “How can you even say that?” she’d cried.
“I don’t know. It’s probably the biggest reason for a guy to ask a girl not to tell.”
“She’s not pregnant. The hospital would’ve picked up on that with all the tests they did. My parents would know, and believe me, I would, too.”
“Maybe he did something to her,” Reya said. “Something bad.” At which they exchanged looks. The sad truth was, he had.
“It has to be something from that night,” Lucy concluded. “Because he hasn’t been able to see her or talk to her since the accident. And he’s getting desperate.”
Reya agreed. “But what?”
The only conclusion they could draw was not to tell Lucy’s parents about the note. They wouldn’t know what it meant, either, and it would only serve to incite them.
“I can’t believe your parents are suing him,” Reya whispered, glancing nervously at Lucy’s closed bedroom door.
“Why not?” Lucy prickled. She’d had the same feeling herself, but hearing it come from her best friend’s lips put her on the defense. “It’s for all the medical bills. Everyone does it. Our lawyers said so.”
“I get it. It just seems so personal.” Reya shrugged. “He’s not going to college or anything, like the rest of us. That business is all he’s got.”
“Ella’s not going to college now, either,” Lucy reminded her.
Reya grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “Shit. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Lucy went to her door and peered up and down the hall. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered. In Ella’s room she found the bracelet right where she’d left it, tucked in the back of her jewelry box. She ran back across the hall with it and closed her door again.
“Look.” She set it on the bed. “I found this when I went back to the garage. It was on the floor of the car.”
Reya held it up between them, the tiny emeralds glittering in the windowlight. “I still can’t believe you did that,” she said, but she looked impressed. “Next time wait for me?”
“It wasn’t like I planned it.” But suddenly Lucy had an idea. “Wait. I know how we can find out more. If you’re not too chicken.”
She watched her friend puff up in offense. “I’m no chicken.”
Lucy laughed. “Good. Then let’s meet up with him.”
“Jep?” Reya’s big brown eyes got even bigger. “No way.”
“Why not? It’s the only way we can find out what all this means. And there’s a chance it can help Ella.” She thought back to the hospital visit when Jep showed up. “You didn’t see her, the way she fought when she heard his voice that day.”
“Maybe it was PTSD.”
“No.” Lucy knew her sister. “She wanted to see him. I’m sure of it.”
“I don’t know, Lucy. Your parents will kill you.” Reya was a rule follower, even if she was tough. But Lucy didn’t want to do it alone. “How would we even meet up with him? Go back to the garage? Then his father might see us.”
“No. We’d have to meet somewhere public, but away from our families. Like the beach. What do you say?”
Reya threw her the same exasperated look she always did when she thought something was a really bad idea, but she would still do it. “Fine. But you set it up. And I’m only going for emotional support.”
Lucy tousled her hair. “Look at you! My very own therapy dog.”
