Page 76 of Lush

Gigi held up Walter’s leash in my face. “Oh! Before I forget, Lu, do you mind taking him home with you?” Giving the small dog a quick kiss on the head, she headed in the other direction. “I’ve got this party up in the Bay, and I’m already running late.”

I looked down at Walter.

“Thanks, babe!” she called over her shoulder, hopping into her convertible. “Love ya! I’ll be back in three days! Make sure he takes his joint supplements.”

I glanced back across the street, where Blair had just stepped toward her car, still deep in conversation with the mayor.

Noelle stepped beside me, her gaze darting across the street. “What’s going on over there?”

“It’s Blair. I think she could be the one doing the blackmailing.”

Her eyes shot wide open, and she turned to me, face full of shock. “You think it’sher? Why didn’t you tell me that part?”

“I’m not sure, but I need to find out before?—”

Blair fumbled with her car door, oblivious to us watching.

“I can’t just stand here,” I muttered.

Noelle’s voice dropped to a sharp whisper. “Are youout of your mind? Don’t! You don’t know what could happen if you do this.”

Dante walked to his car, peeling out quickly, and as he passed, I saw a seal on the back of his car.

I couldn’t react because Blair swung the door open. I started to turn.

Noelle grabbed my arm. “Wait! What if she sees you? What if this turns into somethingway worse?”

“I can’t just let her walk away.” I couldn’t shake the feeling that Blair could help figure this out.

“Laurene!”

I quickly turned, scooping Walter up as we headed toward Erik’s car. I hoped he wouldn’t mind if I took his car on a little joyride. I needed to buy my own car but I refused to use my parents. I buckled Walter into the passenger seat to keep him safe.

Blair’s headlights flashed on, and I held my breath, watching her car pass. I waited a beat before starting mine, doing a quick U-turn to follow.

What am I doing?

I gripped the wheel, focusing on keeping a safe distance. If I hadn’t taken that photo of Blair all those years ago, maybe none of this would be happening. Maybe she wouldn’t be unraveling, and I wouldn’t be chasing her, not knowing what comes next.

What was the plan when she parked? Pretend to be the police and yell “Freeze”?

Reese should be here.

The headlights cut through the winding road as Blair’s car swerved up the hill.

The road narrowed, hugging the coastline like a jagged ribbon. A few cars sped by, their lights flashing across my windshield, blinding me for a moment, but I stayed focused. Blair’s taillights flickered ahead, weaving through the dark curves.

I glanced at Walter. “We got this, don’t we?”

His ears twitched, and he gave a sharp bark. Good boy.

I shifted, still tracking her car, but something felt off. Where the hell was she going?

This was my neighborhood. Beyond our house, there were Noelle’s parents, Reese’s family, the Whitmores, and a few others. The Sterlings lived near the wharf.

Her brake lights flickered again. I caught a glimpse of her head down. Was she texting?

I closed the gap. A deer darted out from the woods, its body a blur against the road. Blair’s car swerved, tires screeching, barely missing the animal.

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