Page 22 of Broken Pact

“Fashion over function,” Sophie and Addie say at the same time.

Blanche pouts, stumbling over an uneven sidewalk stone. “That’s it. I’m moving in with Cora.”

I laugh, not only because the idea is humorous. But there’s no way any of them will ever leave one another. They have too much fun together.

“I already have three roommates, remember?” I droll, shaking my head.

“Yeah, but we’d be so much better,” Blanche sing-songs. “Plus, they’re like never home. You must be lonely.”

She’s not wrong but I don’t mind it really. Sure, we’re not as tight as the golden girls are, but we also don’t have blowups about Tupperware and cleaning.

“We? Who’s we? I’m not leaving our flat,” Sophie sputters with a laugh.

“Same. Sorry, Blanche. We’ll visit though,” Addie adds, holding a giggle back behind her hand.

I roll my lips inward and glance at Blanche. “Sure, you can share my four-bedroom flat with me and my three roommates. But you can’t bring your shoe collection because my place is trash for closets.”

Blanche tips her head toward the sky and lets out the biggest sigh, like she’s put out by all of us. And it’s exactly the thing to push us into full-on laughter.

We’re still giggling when my car comes into view, right where I left her. Parked under a street lamp in front of a sub shop.

I slow my gait. “This is me, gals. Thanks for walking me all this way.”

“Of course. Buddy system, remember?” Sophie says, leaning in for a hug.

The other girls take their own hugs after Sophie, but none of them leave until I’m safely inside my car. I wiggle my fingers in a wave and smile.

Tiredness weighs my shoulders down a little bit, but it’s the good kind of tired. I buckle my seatbelt and glance at my phone. I have a few unread texts from Harper and two texts and a missed call from my sister.

“Jesus,” I mutter, noting the time. I’m not going to get home until one o’clock in the morning. My internal clock is weeping. I’ve been getting up before the sun for so many years that sometimes I can’t sleep in even when I want to. When I desperately need it.

But I can still disco nap like a champion, so I’ll always have that.

With a sigh, I slide my key in the ignition and twist it. Instead of the low purr of my engine, I hear a ticking noise.

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

I ease up on the key and the ticking stops. I try to start it again, and the noise returns.

I repeat this process another two times, which is honestly three more than I should have. I’m not mechanically inclined, but my brother Beau is. And I know enough to know that sound isn’t good.

“Fuck me,” I mutter, banging my head against the top of the steering wheel. I slide my key out and drop it in the available cup holder.

My heart sinks as I grab my phone to call one of my brothers for help. My car has never given me trouble before, and I’m not sure I can afford for it to be a problem now. I’ve sunk almost everything I have into the bakery.

They’ll be annoyed, but it’s better than trying to call my parents. At least my brothers are usually awake at this time. And they do live in Avalon Falls, so it’s like why wouldn’t I call them?

Graham or Beau?

My lips twist to the side as I hedge my bets and click on Beau’s photo. Except nothing happens. It’s silent. I pull my phone back from my ear and quickly realize the problem.

I don’t have any service. Zero bars and less than ten percent battery. That ten percent will last me awhile still, so I’m not too worried about that, but the lack of service is going to be a real problem.

I worry my bottom lip and try to clear my frustration away to figure out what the hell I’m going to do now. Leaning forward, I peer out of my windshield and look for the golden girls. Maybe if I’m quick enough, I can catch up to them.

But I don’t see them. I don’t see anyone around.

“Shit.”

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