Page 134 of One Night with Number Nineteen

The individual apple pies with fresh caramel and homemade ice cream are probably delicious.

But I can barely even look at mine.

Two-fifteen.

“I’m sorry, ladies,” I say, pushing back my chair. “I have another commitment I need to get to.”

“Oh! But we haven’t even taken any pictures yet,” Rhonda exclaims.

I glance at my phone, see that Lainey’s texted me.

She’s already at school and is saving me a seat.

“Right,” I say. “Let’s do that.”

That takes five minutes. Then ten.

Then I waste another five when I have to argue with them about paying for lunch.

“It’s my treat,” I tell Rebecca. “That’s the deal, remember?”

Amy smooths her hand down my arm. “If things don’t work out with your girlfriend…”

The waiter comes by and thankfully, I manage to sign the receipt, get my card back, and tell Bri I’ll catch up with her later.

Worry clings to her eyes, but she merely hugs me and promises to see them out.

“Thanks, kiddo,” I whisper before I hurry out of the restaurant and to my van.

Two-thirty-five.

“Gotta go,” I whisper, turning on the ignition and then starting to back out.

Then stopping.

Freezing.

Because the swag packs from the team are sitting on my back seat.

“Fuck,” I grit out, throwing the transmission into park and getting out. I grab the bags and run them into the restaurant, brushing off their thanks…and their offer for a drink.

Back to my car.

Engine on, reversing out of the spot, and onto the road.

Two-forty-five.

“Okay, this is fine.” I’ll be right on time. It’s not early like I wanted. But I’m sure the performance won’t start right at three. They’ve got to give parents at least five minutes of a grace period.

I turn onto the main drag, zip through several signals, and am less than a mile from school when it happens.

Pop!

My car veers suddenly to the right as the tire blows, sending me careening toward a power pole.

I slam on the brakes, manage to bring my car to a halt.

Then sit there for a second.