Page 112 of Wherever You Are

Butfuck,it’s hot back here. My shirt suctions to my skin, sweat building. A water bottle pokes me in the spine, but I haven’t taken a sip. I can hold my bladder as long as I don’t consume liquids.

It’s been a couple hours since the last pitstop where I stretched my legs, and I’m not about to do gymnastics with people in the car. Connor Cobalt’s voice sounds the closest, which makes me think he’s in the backseat.

That guy is way too perceptive not to notice something rustling around in the trunk. My legs ache, but it’s better than ruining Willow’s relationship with her family. I’m already putting that on a razor-thin line.

“You have two miles and then you turn right.” Rose’s voice is faint.Front seat.Maybe passenger side. It’s been kind of a fun game trying to pinpoint the seating arrangements. At least it’s taken my mind off of being in a duffel bag.

Fuck, my life is weird.

The car starts to meander around winding roads like we’re driving on mountains. The movement churns my stomach.Don’t get car sick. Dude, if I upchuck in this duffel bag and have to sit in my own puke, I might die. Literal death.

I breathe quietly through my nose and cinch my eyes close. I drift off for a couple minutes until Loren’s voice shoots me awake.

“Hey!” Lo shouts. “Crazy Raisins!”

No clue what that’s about. All I know is I haven’t heard Ryke and Daisy’s voices in the Escalade since we left Philly. I figure they must be in a different vehicle.

Rose yells, “Follow us, please! Daisy, you don’t need to be driving in the dark!”

“How many times has she driven a car?” Connor questions calmly.

Recently, Willow asked me whether my Mustang would be faster than a Ferrari. I told her it depends on the models—but I’m not a car expert or anything. I don’t think she meant to tell me more. I think she kind of slipped. But off my confusion about the question, since it was out of the blue, she kept going.

I know that Daisy’s Ferrari is brand new. Two weeks new. I know it’s also her first car, having only really driven motorcycles before.

Information I shouldn’t have.

Information I won’t share with a soul. I’d die first, I think.

Rose yells louder, “Daisy how many times have you driven any kind of car?!”

I strain my ears just to hear Daisy’s reply from outside. “Cuatro!”

Four.

Holy shit.

“Bro, why are you riding in the deathmobile?!” Lo yells at his brother.

“We’re fucking fine!” Ryke screams from outside.

If they’re going to be fine, I have to believe I’m going to be okay. Because honestly, I can’t tell what’s a bigger risk.

Being in a car with Daisy Calloway or hiding out in this duffel bag.

Luckily, the choice has already been made for me.

* * *

The Escalade is parked for longer than just a pee-break. I can tell because they’re all talking outside, too casually to be in a public space.

What I infer: we must have arrived at the lake house. I can almost taste freedom out of this suffocating duffel bag. Before that, though, I have to actually figure out a way to exit the trunk without being seen.

Easier said than done.

I stay quiet. Motionless. Listening to the sound of their conversation outside.

“Is anyone else scared of bears?” Lily’s voice carries loudly.Bears.I have no clue where we are—but I’m guessing it’s somewhere secluded in the woods. Shit, I don’t really want to hypothesize when I’m not supposed to know the exact location.