Page 177 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I almost regret letting him walk me to my car when we get there and TJ gets to see my god-awful parking skills for the first time.

I cover my face with my hands. “I know, I suck at parallel parking.”

He bites down on his lip, directing all of his energy into keeping a straight face. “Babe, I don’t think you can call it parallel parking if it’s not parallel to anything.”

He’s exaggerating. It’s in the space… sort of.

I push him playfully. “Hey, I tried my best, okay?”

He laughs harder. “Straight lines are overrated, anyway.”

We spend the next few minutes laughing like kids.

“Promise to text me when you get home?” he asks as I’m unlocking my car with the key fob.

“Triple promise,” I assure him.

“Drive safe. I love you,” TJ says before kissing me once. Twice. Three times. I laugh as he pecks my mouth repeatedly.

“I love you,” I tell him as I’m opening my car door.

On that note, I get into my car, fire up the engine, and pull out of the parking spot. I’ve just stopped at a red light when a few raindrops hit my windshield.

Fuck.

It’s raining.

A lot has changed lately, but not this. I willalwayshate driving in the rain. I consider turning around, leaving my car near the club, and calling an Uber.

Lacey, stop. You’re a big girl. Just because your dad died while driving in the rain doesn’t mean you will.

It takes me a few deep breaths to collect myself, but I eventually manage to snap out of it.

I can do this. My house isn’t too far from the club. It’s just a little rain.

Only,a little rainquickly becomes a full-blown downpour. Still, I focus on my breathing, praying to make it home in one piece. I think I see something in my rearview mirror just as I’m turning into a back road.

I can see another car’s headlights in the distance. I don’t think twice about it, too busy trying not to panic about the rain to pay the car any mind.

Until the car speeds up, quickly catching up to me.

That’s when I hear them.

The police sirens.

Red and blue lights begin pulsing in the dark, flickering like a chaotic heartbeat.

Shit, I’m getting pulled over.

But why? I wasn’t speeding. If anything, I was driving like a granny because of the rain. I steer my car off to the side of the road and slide into park.

An unsettling feeling churns in my stomach when I see the cop car slow down behind me. As though my body knows something is off before my mind does. And I can’t explain it.

But a voice in my head spurs to life when two men climb out of the police car and begin walking toward me.

The voice is faint, barely there, but it sends terror coursing through my veins.

Run.

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