And for the first time in a while, I really, really want to.
Chapter 24
That Sounded Super Murdery
One Week Later, Now
It took mea week to get the plan sorted. It felt longer because Laurelwould notstop bothering me about each phase of the plan. Primarily because I hadn’t told her any of it and, at present, she believes I’m in the middle of full mental collapse.
“So, we’re going on a trip?” she asks, her eyes on Petey as though she might need him to tackle me at some point.
“Yes. All three of us. Like the old days.”
“Thethreeof us have never been on a trip together. Not without…” Realizing her error, she changes course. “We’ll need separate cars. Petey has to head back to Timber Creek for the next session.”
“We’ll be fine. You and I won’t need a car to drive back. I’ve made sure of it.”
“Are youThelma and Louise–ing us? Is this a road trip to our deaths?”
I laugh, a response she doesn’t appreciate if her eyebrows are any indication.
“This isn’t funny, Charley! I get really uncomfortable when you’re uncharacteristically spontaneous.”
“I’m not going to kill you. You just need to trust me.”
“Please,” she begs, eyes pressed shut. “Stop talking like the husband at the beginning of aDatelinespecial that ends with a meter reader discovering a troubling number of teeth behind a gardenia plant.”
Petey rubs a circle between his fiancée’s shoulder blades. “It might be easier to agree to this if we knew even a part of what was happening right now. A super-small part. Like…why does your sister need to bring her fireproof document box?” He works to keep his voice calm as Laurel starts to lose it. “I think that part’s been a cause for concern for her. Would you say that, Lo?”
Laurel folds her arms across her chest. “It’s only like the fifth-craziest thing she’s done this week, but, yes, the fireproof box request is raising alarm bells for me.”
“To execute my plan, I need your important legal documents handy.”
“That.” She points her finger at my nose. “Right there. That sounded super murdery.”
“Again…” I plead, getting a little annoyed. “Stop falling asleep to true-crime podcasts. I promise I’m not murdering you.”
She eventually agrees to get into the car with me, but not before saving my filmed criminal confession on her cell phone as “collateral.”
We drive for hours without stopping—I half expect Laurel to check if I’m wearing a diaper. Little does she know that to get us to Wet Ted’s on time, I prioritized love over my hydration addiction. Laurel eventually lets out a deep sigh of relief when she sees Ethan’s van in the familiar parking lot.
“Thank god,” she gasps out. “I was praying this whole thing was about Ethan.”
Petey lets out a whoop. “Nice one. You had me going for a while. Between the snorkel and the goalie mask—”
“Red herrings,” I confirm, anxiety tightening my skin at the sight of his van.
“And my document box,” Laurel adds.
I shake my head. “That’s still a critical part of phase two.”
“Charlotte Beekman, are you or are you not reverseGone Girl–ing me?”
Petey tilts his head like a confused puppy. “I don’t think you can reverse that one, babe.”
Usually I’d prioritize absolving myself of such criminal culpability, but my attention is transfixed to Ethan the moment he steps onto the grass. He’s beautiful as ever in his simple T-shirt and shorts, face alight with his typical charismatic aura. The sight of him now is no different than it was two weeks ago…apart from the way my heart has now fallen into my butt.
He’s here. He’s really here.
