Tilt (45 page)

me noticing, or thinking it’s hot.

Mom Isn’t Noticing Much

She’s here, but not.

Talk about distracted!

Finally, I have to ask, “Hey,

Mom. Are you okay?”

She looks at me with dopey

eyes.
Sorry. Lots on my mind

right now, I guess. Is it okay

if we go soon? I should get

back to Aunt Missy’s.
She thinks

a minute, then says,
Maybe

I could drop you off at your

dad’s?
Something strange

is going on. But, like, what?

“Dad and Cassie aren’t home.

They’re shopping for rings

and stuff. What’s up, anyway?”

Shelby’s gotten very sick, so Mom

and I have been trying to help

Missy take care of her.
She thinks

for a minute, then makes a call.

Jace? It’s Andrea. Can I drop

Harley off? I want to get back

to Marissa’s.
Three beats.
Really?

That would be great. Twenty minutes?

“Let me guess. I’m going back

to Bri’s for the night?” Hey,

wonder if we can figure out

a way to see Lucas and Kurt.

And maybe tomorrow, too,

depending on how things

go.
She collects her purse.

You don’t mind, do you?

“Nope. It’s okay.” On the short

walk to the car, the wheels in

my brain are turning. I don’t

want to call Lucas. Too forward.

I bet I can find him on Facebook.

I can’t use my account. Mom

checks up on me there. But Mrs.

Carlisle never snoops. We’ll use Bri’s.

Bri’s Dad Agreed

To meet us halfway so Mom doesn’t

have to drive all the way to Washoe

Valley. By the time we reach South

Meadows, they’re already there.

Mr. Carlisle gets out of his car, comes

over to ours. The look on his face

is a mixture of concern and—what?

Compassion, maybe. As I open

the car door, he gives Mom a gentle

smile.
You okay?
He waits for her

small shrug.
Let me know if you need

anything. I’m just a phone call away.

What the heck is going on? I join

Bri in the cushy leather backseat

of her dad’s awesome Audi. Before

I seal myself in, I catch the end

of something Mom is saying.

 . . . help with the arrangements.

Wonder What They’re Arranging

Guess I’ll find out sooner or later.

Meanwhile, I’ve got my own

arrangements to worry about.

When we get to Bri’s, we go straight

to her room, turn on her computer

and bring up Facebook. It doesn’t take

long to find Lucas’s page. I message

him: “Last night was fun. Hope you

had fun, too. Looks like I’m spending

the weekend with Brianna. If you can

come out to Washoe Valley, it would

be great to see you. Kurt, too.” I think

that’s good enough. Oh, except I give

him my cell number again. “Call any time.”

Now, I guess, it’s a waiting game. Patience

isn’t my best thing. Hope it doesn’t take long.

Lucas

The Waiting Game

Must be played correctly

to get the desired results.

Call too quickly, the

anxious

state you’re hoping for

won’t have time to build.

But wait too long, most

girls

will get annoyed,

give up on you. Of course,

the younger ones

are

usually more patient,

and the longer you extend

the play, the

easier

it is to win the game.

I think it’s time to put

round two in motion.

Mikayla

Two Small Carry-Ons

That’s all Mom and I are taking

to Vegas. It’s just an overnight

trip—nineteen hours start to finish.

Dad drops us at the Southwest

check-in.
Take care of your mom,

he tells me. Like anyone could.

Then he says to her,
Keep your

head, and don’t expect too much.

Lecture, lecture, lecture. God!

But she takes it well.
No worries.

I’ve got things pretty much in

perspective.
She must. She doesn’t

seem nervous or worried at all.

I’m a wreck. If this goes wrong,

I’d have to say it’s totally my fault.

Okay. That airport cop is giving

me the evil eye,
says Dad.
Better

go. Love you.
Mom says she loves

him too, and gives him a kiss.

She must be mad about him

lecturing her. Despite the mutual

declaration, there didn’t seem

to be a whole lot of love in that

kiss. Which makes me wonder

if I’ll ever kiss Dylan and not be

overwhelmed with love. I trail

Mom through security. Notice how

the cute TSA guy totally checks

her out. Bet he’d like to give her

a pat-down. And why does he ignore

me completely? Am I giving off

pregnant vibes? Why do I care?

Safely beyond the metal detector,

Mom says,
We’ve got an hour

before our flight. Want some

lunch?
Lunch? Is she cracked?

I Decline

But she’s determined to leave

me sitting here alone by the gate.

Back in a few. If you change

your mind, I’ll be at the bar.

I get it now. She’s not hungry.