Page 60 of Escaping Our Reality

Raylee plops down on the opposite end of the couch. “I don’t remember seeing you. And I would’ve definitely remembered seeing you.” Her eyebrows waggle underneath her bangs.

“Raylee!” Teresa chastises.

She tosses her hands in the air. “What? Are we seriously supposed to pretend he isn’t one of the hottest guys to ever walk the face of the planet? He should be happy. It’s a compliment.”

Damn good thing I don’t blush.

Lulu doesn’t roll her eyes; she just laughs.

Ray walks into the room, two fresh beers in his hand. “And I suppose I’m one of those guys too. Right, sweetie?”

Raylee snorts. “Yes, Father.”

Leaning across the coffee table, Ray dangles a beer in front of me. “Ella said you are twenty-one?”

“Yes, sir.” I eagerly grab the beer from his fingers. It’s a craft beer. Expensive.

Lulu sighs. “I wish I could’ve been more involved with the searches.”

“The public relations stuff was important too, Ella. It was the beginning. Getting Carrie’s information out there was vital. Yourparents needed you by their side.” Teresa’s just trying to placate Lulu’s frustration. I think we all know her parents could’ve handled the spotlight just fine, all by themselves. But they needed Lulu there to fully portray the perfect, nuclear southern American family.

“How did you know Carrie, Crutch?”

I freeze. Taking a large gulp of beer, I stall for time. What am I supposed to say?

Lulu answers for me. “The body shop he works at is across the parking lot from that one gas station on the other side of the county. When Marcum and Leary went out there to question the employees, they walked across and talked to Ryland and Harlan.”

“Well, that’s really good of you, son. Every warm body helps.”

He called me son. Just like Harlan. Just like my grandpa. And now just like Marcum.

Raylee kicks Lulu with her feet. “How did your trip presentation go?”

I completely forgot about the trip thing that Marcum mentioned. I was too consumed with thoughts of meeting Lulu’s family.

“It went really well. The vote was seven yes and three no.”

“That’s great. Congratulations.”

I clear my throat and nudge Lulu’s side.

She giggles, taking my breath away. She glances around at her family. “I haven’t told him anything about it.”

They all nod, knowing a secret I don’t know. And I don’t like it.

“Back when Carrie was a senior in high school, she tried to convince them to do something really special for the senior trip at the end of the year. She wanted them to do something civic related. Do something for charity, for the greater good. Not justthe same old trip for getting drunk and partying. Student council voted her down.

“I thought trying the same thing would be something nice to do. For Carrie.

“So, our senior trip will be a two-week trip to Puerto Rico. The first week, we will be partnering with a charity organization to buy and distribute water filters to those in need of clean drinking water. The last hurricane still has the infrastructure messed up. We’ll also help with a school and park remodel. The second week, we’ll do the normal senior trip thing. We’ll stay at an all-inclusive resort on the coast. Get some sun. Play in the water. Let those who party, party.”

I discreetly rub the side of her hip with my thumb. “You did that? You convinced a bunch of self-centered, rich kids to give back? To spend part of their senior trip doing charity work? That’s amazing. You’re amazing.”

She shrugs off my compliment, reaching for her glass of water on the coffee table. “It’s no big deal. Most of them are just doing it to pad their future resumé.”

“Well, I’m proud of you. Regardless of everyone else’s intentions, I know what your intentions are.”

She leans against me, staring into my eyes. Her brown eyes shimmer like honey in the sun. She winks at me, teasing me. She loves to tease me. “By the way, guess I should mention that I’ll be taking a two-week trip in May?”

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