Page 50 of Wicked Promises

“Yeah, hey.” I clear my throat. “Um, could you come to the hospital? If it’s not too much trouble?”

“Of course,” she says immediately. “I’ll be there in ten.”

Lenora has resumed pacing.

“It’s getting dark out,” she comments. “Nice of them to give us a window.”

I shiver. “I’m glad I’m not learning to drive anytime soon.”

She squints at me. “Huh?”

“Driving in the snow… doesn’t sound like a good time.”

“You don’t—” She smacks her forehead. “We’re idiots!”

“What…”

“Margo, what a complete, total, awful oversight on our part.” She winces. “I’m sorry, I should’ve realized it when your foster sister came by and boasted about her learner’s permit.”

“It’s not a big deal.” My fingers find their way to my wrist, and I have to stop myself from scratching at the scab. “I just, you know, plan on learning eventually. Or at least taking the test and hope I pass.”

She scoffs. “No, absolutely not. As soon as this is all sorted, we’ll put you in driver’s ed. And we’ll practice once you’ve had a few lessons.”

My eyebrows go up. “Just like that?”

“I’ve seen your reckless tendencies. I don’t even want to know what that’d be like with you behind the wheel,” she says, and it takes me a moment to realize she’s teasing.

Lenora.

Teasing.

Who would’ve thought?

I cough over my laugh. “I wouldn’t bethatbad.”

“You sure?”

She giggles, and it breaks the dam. I laugh, too. We both howl with laughter, clutching our stomachs. Tears—happy ones, I think—stream down my face. My abs hurt by the time we finally stop.

“Oh God,” I say, the happiness draining away like someone just pulled the plug on it. “We’re laughing while?—”

“Stop right there,” she says, reaching out and taking my hands.

For the first time, probably ever, I hold her hands back.

“We’re allowed to laugh. He’d probably be happy we weren’t crying without cause.”

“But…”He could still die. It’s late, almost six o’clock. Two hours since Ms. McCaw dropped me off.

Hours or minutes. Time swung away from me when I wasn’t paying attention.

I’m still contemplating that when Riley appears, breathless. She looks between Lenora and me. We must be quite the sight—red-faced and winded ourselves—but she doesn’t comment. She squeezes the daylights out of me.

I grasp at her, letting the rib-crunching hug put me back together.

Chapter 14

Margo