Page 273 of Something Rad
“But I–”
I don’t get a chance to finish my argument, because Robbie is grabbing me, slipping one arm under my thighs and the other behind my back, and hauling me over his lap.
“Robbie,no!” I cry, kicking my feet and trying to fight him. But it’s no use.
He plops me down on the other side of him, flinging his body into the driver’s seat and clicking his seat belt on just before the cop approaches the car window.
“Robbie–” I whisper-shout, two tears streaming down my face.
“Stop,” he mouths at me silently, his jaw set.
I wipe my tears away, swallowing my sob just as the cop knocks on Robbie’s window, prompting Robbie to roll it down.
Officer Strothers’s face comes into view a few seconds later, looking as smug and menacing as the last time I saw him.
“Evening, kids,” he says, a Cheshire cat smile on his face that makes a shiver run through me.
“Evening, Officer,” Robbie replies, his voice tight.
“Where are you kids coming from tonight?”
Robbie scoffs, mumbling under his breath.
“What’s that, son?”
“I said, you know we’re coming from Prom,” Robbie grits, making me stiffen at his harsh tone. “Along with every other kid in town, including your son.”
Officer Strothers’s tongue presses into his bottom lip. “You know what? You’re right,” he says. “I know tonight was Prom. Which means I know what every kid has been getting up to, including my son.”
Robbie blows out a measured breath, looking up at the officer. “Sir, I’d like to get my girlfriend home. So, if you could either tell me why you pulled me over or let me go–”
“Have anything to drink tonight, son?”
I feel my heart stutter in my chest. I swallow hard, slowly glancing over to look at Robbie, who, even though he’s certainly had plenty to drink, doesn’t react at all to the officer’s questioning.
“No, sir,” he says.
“Is that so?”
“Should I repeat myself?” Robbie asks, and, if we weren’t currently in the presence of a police officer, I would kick him for being a smart ass to a police officer. I rest my elbow against the side of my door, biting down on my nails to distract myself, keeping my eyes on the floor.
Officer Strothers breathes out a chuckle. “You know, it’s just that you were going pretty fast and swerving around quite a bit for someone that hasn’t been drinking.”
I feel my pulse pounding in my ears, and I resort to counting in my head to drown out the noise, convincing myself that this is going to be over any second.
“I’m sorry about that, Officer,” Robbie says. “You see, we were just pretty wired coming home from Prom. I had some music playing. Probably a little too loud, if I’m honest. We were just singing along and having a good time. It may have caused a little distraction in my driving on this open empty road.”
My eyes widen, surprise coursing through me at Robbie’s ability to stay calm and come up with such a coherent believable answer when he’s half past drunk while I’m currently sitting here, essentially sober and am on the verge of being sick.
I steal a glance at Officer Strothers, trying to determine if he’s buying any of this. His brow is furrowed, his eyes narrowed as he lifts the flashlight he’s carrying up to Robbie’s face. It’s so bright that I have to look away, but Robbie barely flinches, just squinting into the light.
“Hmm…” the officer muses. “Eyes are pretty glossy and bloodshot to be sober.”
“Strothers, if you wanted to stare longingly into my eyes, you could’ve just asked.”
I cover my mouth, blocking the unexpected laugh trying to burst out of me and also keeping myself from berating Robbie for his actions.
Officer Strothers drops his flashlight, taking a step back from the car, and a sigh of relief instantly flows out of me.
