Page 78 of One Wild Ride

“When I turn twenty-five I inherit my money. It should be more than enough to leave and live happily for a while.”

She nodded. “If I know my family, I will get a check when I graduate school. I’ll put it away and use it for when we leave. Maybe when they get us together for our wedding, we can sneak away and disappear.” She stuck out her hand. “Let’s shake on it.”

I shook her hand and then got an idea. Walking over to my bookshelf, I pulled out two books and handed it to Alexa. Taking the paper cover off one and placing it on the other, I handed her the one with the fake cover.

“This is a book about the Native American code talkers from World War Two. I’ll write to you. When I do, it will be a secret message. You can decode it. When you write me, you do the same. This way, no one, not even my mother, will be able to figure out what we are actually saying to each other.”

She jumped up. “Yes! That’s a great idea. But why did you put,” she looked down at the cover, “The Self-Taught Computer Programmer cover on this?”

“If anyone sees the book, they won’t know what it really is.”

“Ahh!” She smiled and tapped the side of her head. “Smart thinking.”

I gathered up the other book and cover and put it away on the shelf just as my bedroom door swung open. My mother stood there, her eyes on the hunt for anything out of place, like always.

“Alexa, I’m afraid it’s time to go. Your parents made dinner reservations. Alex and I can’t come, but we did invite you over for brunch tomorrow before you two head back to California.”

Alexa nodded and the brightness of the girl I was talking to dimmed in my mother’s presence.

“Bye, Alex. Thanks for the book. I have a lot to learn.”

My mother watched her go before she turned back to me. I kept my eyes level with my mother’s trying to find any sign that she knew what Alexa and I were up to. But there was nothing. Only the usual coldness I had come to expect from her.

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