Page 54 of Anything (Mayberry University #1)
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Please keep rain away while we drive.
I’m packing a few things—I won’t need much—when I see storm clouds out my window. A terrible idea hits me. I couldn’t, but I should. I should have done it a long time ago.
Is this your idea?
I steel myself in preparation, in surrender. Maybe I finally have the courage to face my fear head on—to stop squashing and start fighting.
Hey, Austin. I really need a favor
What’ s up
Can you please drive me somewhere?
Feeling ok?
I’m being serious.
If Jeeves is cool with it
We’re not talking. I can explain on the drive.
Not gonna step on his toes like that sorry
I need this, and only Austin can do the job. I trust him. And … don’t judge me … he’s really cute. That’s important here.
“Sophs.” I peek my head into her room. She’s panic-packing before heading to the airport.
“Kinda busy. Super late.”
“I know, but I really need your help. Two minutes or less.”
“You’re being weird. What is it?”
“I asked Austin to drive me somewhere. I … I need to figure something out. But he won’t do it.”
“Uh, yeah, he’s Samwise Gamgee—loyal to a fault. And you never ride in the front seat with a dude. I mean, call me Captain Obvious. What’s up with you?”
“I need you to convince him.” We both know you can, Sophs.
“You’re not gonna explain it to me either, are you?”
“There’s not time, remember?”
“Sure, that’s it.” She steals a nervous glance at me. “You’re not going after him, are you?”
Well, my instincts were right all along. I wring my hands. Am I actually capable of this? “Of course not,” I say.
“You’re insane. But I love you.”
I breathe an almost-laugh. Yep.
Stuffing socks into her boots, she murmurs, “What would Jesus do if Jesus were me?”
Woah. This is new for Sophie. I’m so excited to hear her asking that. I want to know so much more .
Her frantic hands still inside her suitcase. “You and Levi? I want this for you.” She’s saying so much more than she’s saying. “I’ll do it.”
Thank you, I say. But my words don’t make a sound.
Sophie works her magic. Two minutes later, Austin texts me.
What time
A glance outside tells me it’s going to rain any minute.
Now if at all possible?
Meet me at the parking lot in 10
Can you drive over to the library? So people don’t see us?
K
If this gets back to Levi your gonna call him and fix it
And when he gets back your gonna tell him so I don’t feel like I’m keeping secrets
Levi must be sick of secrets.
Deal.
Again and again, I run over how I’m going to explain this. The task helps distract me from the panic boiling in my stomach.
There’s Ethan’s truck at the library. Can’t have small-school rumors starting over this, so I slide in with my best Sydney Bristow moves and double over in the seat. I crack into a laugh at the absurdity of my covert op, releasing some of the stress.
Austin snorts as he turns the ignition. “Okay, Crazy. You have some explaining to do.” He and Sophie really are cut from the same cloth. “You used Sophie against me. This better be important.” Gray-blue eyes intense, bushy brown brows raised. His stern look again.
I wince. “Sorry. It is. So, you might have noticed I have some … quirks?”
“Yup.”
I hide my hands under my legs on the old cloth seat. Gritty like I’m used to.
“I don’t want to get into the specifics, but things between Levi and me have been really complicated because I have”—I pull in a breath to steel myself—“Because I have these awful memories. Flashbacks. That’s why I won’t ride shotgun. Or share a couch. And I avoid rain. This … is an experiment.”
Austin must see the darkening sky. “An experiment?”
“To see if I have flashbacks with you too.”
“And if you do?”
“If I do, that will suck for me today, but I’ll know it’s not just with Levi.”
“If you don’t?”
“If I don’t, then he’s the catalyst. That wouldn’t be good for me and him. It would make things very … impractical for us.”
“What makes it more likely for you to have a flashback?”
I half smile. He’s trying to rig the experiment. “Yelling.” I won’t say touch. That’s past the line. “Loud noises.”
Austin glances over with a soft look.
I avert my gaze to the window. No rain yet.
“What should I do if your experiment works? What will happen?”
“If it works you can head back. I’ll … freak out, feel scared. I always cry. It’s embarrassing.”
“That’s why you jet out of a room sometimes?”
“Yeah.”
“How much of this does Jeeves know?”
“I told him everything yesterday. But not about this.” I motion to the truck .
“Finally,” he says dramatically. “Mind if I ask about y’all’s ‘not talking’ status? I didn’t see him before he left.”
“We’re going to pray. And talk after break.”
“Good. Where am I driving exactly?”
I shrug. “Doesn’t matter.”
“Music or no?”
I shake my head, and we ride in silence.
Finally, the rain begins. I pull my legs up to my chest in preparation—no concern putting my shoes on Ethan’s crusty seat. The harder the rain falls, the heavier the fear drips into my mind. I stare at my window, streams of water disguising anything outside. With Levi, there was thunder.
Here goes. I’m adopting quite a personality transplant for some unreliable information. “Right before you picked me up …” I’m just loud enough for him to hear over the rain pelting the car. “I told Sophie what you said before, about you and her. She cried. Said she’s done with you.”
“You did what?! How could?—”
And the blackness rushes in.
Austin parks at the library, brows pressed down.
I wipe my face for the billionth time this week. “She didn’t. I would never.”
“I realized,” he says with chagrin. “You were very believable. I’m sorry I yelled.”
“No, I’m sorry. I really appreciate this.”
“Sure thing, Kit. I hate that you’re living with that.”
I attempt a smile and open the truck door.
Okay, I did it. Now what?
Feet slipped into slides, towel around my shoulders, I carry my goggles and water bottle up the frosty path.
My breath clouds the winter air. Around the outdoor seating, through the back door—stifling heat.
I might go back out with a snack. Down the main hall, through the dining room, into the kitchen.
I drop my things on the island to open the refrigerator door and?—
Levi.
Yes?
Love your enemies.
My fists curl.