Page 84 of Writing On The Wall

“You’rebreaking into his car. I’m just an accomplice. And I don’t know where he is. We need to drive around a bit. There are a few spots he usually crashes at.”

“Okay…next question. Why the middle of the night? You’re going to be a zombie tomorrow.”

“I know,” she groans. “But I couldn’t sleep. And then the idea just came to me, so I went with it. In hindsight, I probably could have waited. Sorry.” She flashes her teeth in a cheesy smile, eliciting a chuckle from me.

“Never apologize for involving me in your life, Ivy June. Especially when it involves a clandestine adventure.”

Her smile morphs into something more genuine.

Twenty minutes and three locations later, we finally spot Ross’s car. Ivy parks, reaching behind her seat and lifting up a wire coat hanger while she smiles triumphantly.

“What the heck is that for?”

Her eyes sweep the space between us. “To get into his car. Isn’t this what you need?”

“The last time I broke into a car, I used something a little different. You know, the tools for us auto-thieves have really come a long way over the years.”

“Really?” she tilts her head and her shoulders drop.

“No.”

She snorts, swatting my arm with the back of her hand. “Stop! Should we watch a Youtube video?” She starts pulling her phone out, and I snatch the coat hanger from her hand.

“Woman. Give me that.” I untwist the hanger, straightening one side of it as much as I can.

“Yes, sir,” she mutters, and I can’t help the smug smile that forms on my face when I notice her watching my movements appreciatively.

We climb out, each of us scoping out the area. It’s not the best neighborhood, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone watching us. We meander over to Ross’s car, and I throw an arm around Ivy to appear as casual as possible.

“Here, I’ll lean against the car, and you lean over me like we’re gonna make out,” she says.

I growl. “I’d much rather just do that.”

“Focus, King. This is your chance to impress your girlfriend. We’ll make out later.” She bats her eyelashes while pulling me closer. It’s quite scary how far I’d go for her. This isn’t considered a crime, is it? Just taking back what’s hers?

I pull the coat hanger out of my jacket, squinting at the windows of the apartments surrounding us. “I’m pretty sure I just saw someone peep through their blinds,” I whisper.

“Then hurry up so we can get this over with.”

“What if the car has an alarm?” I grunt, fighting to get the wire into the window. It’s not an easy maneuver with Ivy in front of me and one of my arms slung around her.

“It’s an old car. There’s no alarm,” she swats at the air, as if that’s the most ridiculous thought in the world. Finally, the wire slides into place, and I manage to get it down to the button inside the door. I hear a click as the locks unlatch, surprised it actually worked. Ivy lets out a squeal, which I quickly shush, but she hops around excitedly on her toes.

“You did it!”

She opens the passenger door, and the most obnoxiously loud car alarm begins blaring, announcing our illicit activity for the whole block.

I turn to her, my lips pursed. “No alarm, hmm?”

“Gloating isn’t a good look on you,” she says, shaking her head before ducking down. But hiding is pointless, because this thing is loud enough to be heard within a two-mile radius. I pull her away, crouch-walking behind the next car as two men approach from the shadows. I’m grateful I wore a clean shirt for my inevitable mugshot. I try to position my body in front of Ivy, but we’re sitting ducks. If we run, we leave ourselves exposed. This is my worst nightmare—wanting to keep the woman beside me safe but feeling utterly powerless to do so.

“Ivy?”

She stands suddenly, too quickly for me to pull her back down. My only option is to stand with her, shielding her as we wait for this to play out. The blaring car alarm finally stops when one of the men presses a button on his keys.

“Hi, Ross.”

“Ivy? Whatcha doin over there, sis?”

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