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“No, I didn’t. That’s just how we tease each other. You wouldn’t understand. Today’s been rough.”
“So, you want it to be rough for all of us?”
“No, I—” Luna wasn’t sure what point she was trying to make or how she could defend herself. It didn’t matter because, deep down, she knew if she lost easygoing Mia, she must havereallyscrewed up. Her cheeks grew hot and frustrated tears threatened to make an appearance.
Luna pushed herself away from the table. “I should leave.” She was not in control. Everything was getting away from her. Maybe it was too late and she’d already lost the only family she had.
Mia took her arm as she passed, her gaze unwavering. “I’m not perfect. I’ve said hurtful things myself. It’s a mistake when it happens, but it’s a bigger mistake if you don’t make it up to the people you love and apologize. You owe Ross as much.”
When released, Luna grabbed her bag and left. There was no sign of Ross outside of the home. He probably didn’t want to see her anyway. She got in her car and drove, but instead of heading to Schnell Ridge, she got on Highway50 North. It would be better if she took a few days to get herself together and what better place than Lake Tahoe. She could get a cheap hotel near the state line and take a moment to figure everything out.
Luna didn’t have much with her, except for the small bag in the back of her SUV with an emergency change of clothes and some personal supplies like an extra toothbrush and deodorant. It was her bug-out bag for when she couldn’t deal anymore. It wasn’t enough to get her to Alaska. Lake Tahoe would do for now.
She’d send Aanya a text to tell Ross she wouldn’t be in the shop for a few days. He had handled everything fine when she was in school. He didn’t exactly need her. Plus, he had Mia, who’d stick up for him, so he didn’t need Luna in this area either. Ross had everything he needed.
And Luna? She wasn’t sure who she had. At the moment, it seemed as though she had no one. She didn’t blame anyone for wanting to pull away from her. Not only were Ross and Mia upset at her, but she had no best friend, no boyfriend, no friends of any kind. Luna wasn’t going to cry. She wasn’t. She’d go to Lake Tahoe for a few days, take some time to rest, and figure out how to fix her life. If Luna could transform a tired old apartment, she could do the same thing for the other parts of her life. She was resourceful and could try harder to be good. If Ross could forgive her, just this once, Mia would like her again. Hopefully. She didn’t want anything more than that.
Suddenly, the lights on her car panel shut off and she started losing speed as the car coasted slower and slower.What the hell?She had no choice but to muscle her steering wheel toward the shoulder of the road.
Luna turned the key in the ignition, begging her motor to turn over, to do something other than strand her on the side of the highway. Nothing.
“Fuck!”
Her day had gone from bad to worse to wanting to strangle herself with a seatbelt. This wasn’t fair. It wasn’t. She pressed her palms into her eye sockets, taking a few deep breaths. Luna could handle this.
She could call a tow truck. Although, she’d feel more comfortable if she wasn’t in the middle of nowhere. Ross’s parents were killed somewhere on the 50, after they blew a tire and had to pull over. The two-lane highway was full of narrow twists as the elevation climbed higher through the mountains, and with the tall pine trees, drivers drove between shadow and light.
No one knew where she was. She checked the map on her phone to get a satellite location of where she was. Scrolling her phone address book, she had Mia, Ross, Sam, and Tessa all listed one right after the other. It was a collection of the everyone-who-hated-Luna club. Sam and Tessa were definitely out. Out of Mia and Ross, she could probably face Mia. Or maybe she’d call Ross. He would talk to her more than Sam would, which was fine by her because the apartment manager would be the last person she’d purposely reach out to. Luna pushed the call button.
After a few rings, it was picked up. “What do you need, Luna?”
Wait.
It was a grumpy voice on the other end but it wasn’t Ross’s. She looked at the phone screen. Sam! She’d accidentally hit Sam’s name.
“Shit!” Luna hit the disconnect button.
She jumped when the phone rang in her hand.
“What’s wrong?” Sam asked when she answered.
“I didn’t mean to…” Her voice had a slight shake and she hated it. Luna disconnected again.
Her phone immediately rang. His name lit the screen.Dammit! It was an accident!She smashed the answer button to tell him as much.
“I swear to God, Luna, if you don’t tell me what’s wrong, I’m going upstairs and—”
“I’m not there. I’m…”
“Where are you?”
“M-my car broke down. I was going to call Ross and I hit your name by accident.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m j-just past Ice House.”
“You broke down on the highway?”
