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‘Is that all? I thought you were going to ask for money or drugs or something.’

‘No, Mer, we have loads of money and drugs,’ she said sarcastically.

Meredith cocked her head, studying us, and I noticed that she had the exact same eyes as Brooke, too: deep brown, with flecks of gold in the iris. Those Summer genes were strong.

‘Brooke, you’re only seventeen,’ she said after a while. ‘Your folks are really worried about you. Are you sure you don’t want to call them?’

‘I’m fine,’ Brooke said with a long sigh. ‘I just need a break from them, you know?’

This wasn’t going how I’d hoped, and when I glanced at Brooke, she seemed annoyed too. This didn’t feel like the right time to be asking Meredith for help getting jobs in Orlando.

‘Where are you going?’ Meredith asked.

‘Anywhere. Nowhere. I can’t stand my mom hovering over me for one more fucking second. Getting out of Seattle was the most important thing.’

‘Well, you know I understand that feeling.’ Meredith stretched her feet out to study her toenails. ‘You can crash here for a few days if you want.’

I glanced at Brooke but had no idea how to read her expression.

‘That could work,’ Brooke said casually. She looked over at me, and I tried to keep my expression neutral.

‘Could I talk to you for a second?’ I asked Brooke.

She looked confused, but nodded, and followed me to the tiny kitchenette area. Meredith was still only six feet away from us.

‘We’ll be fine,’ I said in a low voice that I was certain Meredith could hear. ‘If we stay here tonight, we can get moving tomorrow and still be in New York in a couple days.’

Brooke frowned at me for a second, then her eyebrows shot up in understanding.

‘Once we’re in the city, no one is gonna be able to find us,’ Brooke said, a little louder.

‘Exactly.’

Meredith stood up, and I stepped away from Brooke, suddenly aware of how close we were huddled together.

‘Give me a minute. I’ll be right back.’

‘Sure,’ Brooke said.

I waited until the door had closed behind Meredith before turning back to Brooke.

‘Wanna tell me what that was all about?’ Brooke asked, leaning back against the counter.

‘Sorry. I know we’re not going to New York, don’t worry. It just doesn’t hurt if other peoplethinkthat’s where we’re headed, you know?’

‘You sound really paranoid right now.’

‘I know.’ I held my hands up. ‘If your cousin turns out to be cool, then great. I’ll apologize to her another time, when all of this is over. I’m just trying to cover our backs.’

Brooke nodded. ‘Okay, I get it. And New York makes sense. My family wouldn’t be surprised to hear I was heading that way.’

‘Because of your sister?’

‘Partly, yeah. I also made a big deal about wanting to spend the past couple summers with Julianne. If Meredith did call my folks, this would all be plausible.’

I let my shoulders slump with relief. ‘Good. Are you going to ask about her friends helping us get jobs?’

Brooke shook her head. ‘I figure if we borrow a phone, then I can always call and ask her once we’re down in Orlando.’