Page 21 of Sundown Somewhere

“Doll…” I whisper after Pixie is out of earshot.

“Don’t…please don’t…”

I hear her plea, but I don’t listen. I need to know.

“Has that been going on all week?”

She shakes her head, turning to face me, still trying to blink away the tears. My heart rips in two, hating seeing her like this. Right about now I’d give any one of my major organs if it meant not seeing her cry ever again.

“Not all week. ‘I’m so proud’ is a new power move they must’ve been working on, because that’s twice in less than twenty-four hours. Mrs. Chamberlain pulled a similar move last night. More than anything, it’s been attempts to find out exactly what went down. Confirm rumors, that kind of thing.”

“Any good ones?”

“My favorite is that he’s been working for the mob, and is going into witness protection.”

I choke out a laugh. Oh, that’s rich. Jeff working for the mob. Ha. They would have offed his ass long ago for being annoying.

“You know, Hux…” She sucks in a breath, letting it out slowly. “I love this town. I do. But sometimes…sometimes I hate it.”

I nod, understanding exactly what she’s saying. Sometimes this town is simply too much.

Which means it’s time to get out.

“When was the last time we got up to no good?” I ask her, letting mischief sneak into my voice.

I don’t have a plan. Don’t need one. Not yet. All I need is for her to agree.

“What?”

“You said it. We haven’t done that in a long time. Maybe it’s time.”

“I also said that we’re in our thirties and are long past labeling piglets one, three, and four and letting them loose in the high school. Or your place of employment,” she sasses.

Biting back a laugh, I step into her, grabbing ahold of her hips, trying not to picture what Gus’s face would look like as he ran around the office trying to find piglet number two that didn’t exist. It’s a brilliant idea, but she’s right. We’re too old for that. Maybe.

“As much as I like that idea, that’s not what I was thinking. Do you trust me?”

“You know I do.”

“Good. Then leave it to me. We’re gonna get up to no good.”

7

DOLLY

Wind whips through my hair, the spring air slightly cool against my skin, even in the warm sun. The pretty blue sports car that Hux rented hugs the curve of the old back road we’re on, the thrill of riding with the top down on a beautiful day coursing through me.

Granted, it’s not a midnight joyride in my grandfather’s T-bird, but what is?

I giggle at the memory, unable to hold it in, earning me a curious side-eye from my best friend.

“I didn’t take it that fast,” he comments.

“No, I was just thinking about that night we borrowed Opal.”

Hux groans, his couple days of scruff hiding the sly smile that I know is spreading across his face. Butterflies swarm in my tummy as I recall that feeling of freedom as we cruised through town, the full moon above us, not a care in the world. Including the fact that we were only fifteen and neither of us had a license. Or permission to use the car.

“I still kick myself for taking that left.”