Page 90 of The Play

And that’s when we hear the sirens.

21

HUNTER

THIS IS A DISASTER.I’M GETTING PULLED OVER BY THE COPS,and Demi’s head is stuck in my lap. She’s draped over me like a blanket, her face inches from my crotch, and I know that the second the officer reaches the driver’s side window, he’s going to think…

Jesus Chris, he’s going to think she’s blowing me.

“Why did they pull us over?” she hisses.

“Must’ve seen us swerving all over the road.” Shit, this is a nightmare.

I shut off the engine. As I wait for the cop to approach the window, I make a frantic attempt to pry Demi off me.

“Ow!” she wails.

“Sorry,” I mumble. “I’m trying to get you free.” Her earring is caught, all right, but I’m not sure on what.

I think it’s one of my belt loops? But how the hell did it get embedded like that? Maybe it snagged on a thread? I’m not making a lick of progress, and every time I try to tug the hoop free, Demi whimpers in pain. I can’t believe I’m even thinking it, but…she might lose that ear.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Someone’s coming,” she whispers as footsteps thump on the pavement.

“License and regist—” The police officer stops midsentence.

I sigh in resignation.

“What in the hell is going on here? Sit up, Miss,” he commands. “Now, please.”

“I can’t!” moans Demi.

The cop’s stern eyes fix on me. “I’m going to need you and your girlfriend to get out of the car and place both your hands on the hood.”

“I’m not his girlfriend,” Demi says, as ifthat’sour most pressing concern, being mistaken for a couple.

“We can’t,” I answer through gritted teeth.

“Look, kid, I realize this is a cool thing you college boys like to do—”

Acool thingwe do?

“—but lewd behavior is grounds for arrest. Not only that, you were driving recklessly and endangering other drivers.”

I peer out the windshield at the dark and completely empty road. “What other drivers? There’s nobody here but us. A single car hasn’t driven by since you pulled us over.”

“And we’re not being lewd,” Demi protests. “I’m stuck!”

“Stuck,” he echoes dubiously.

I sigh. “She dropped her phone and tried to pick it up, and now she’s stuck.”

“Stuck,” he says again. Then he shakes his head as if deciding he doesn’t want to buy what we’re selling. “Miss, this is the last time I’m going to ask—please sit up.”

“I can’t.”

The officer reaches for his belt.

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