Page 35 of Our Lips Are Sealed
Somewhere around Pensacola, Evie decided any of those terms would be a fitting description for herself.
“Welcome to Mississippi,” Jamison read off the interstate sign. “Jeez, these roads are horrible.”
Remaining silent, Evie strangled her sedan’s steering wheel. How had she let herself get duped into continuing to drive? Within an hour of being on the road, she’d quickly realized reasoning with Jamison was almost impossible. Her sister shut down at the first mention of going home, crying quiet tears in her seat.
And so, Evie drove a little further.
On their approach to the Florida-Alabama line, Jamison perked up, and Evie attempted to tackle the subject of her relationship with Samuel. Stuck in the car together, it was the perfect time to lay it all out there.
However, just mentioning it had Jamison shutting down again. She sulked in her seat, her face turned towards the passing scenery as if she couldn’t even bear to look Evie’s way.
And so, Evie drove a little further, deciding that maybe it was time she grew a backbone when dealing with her sister. The idea of her being able to talk Jamison out of this scheme was laughable now. Almost as laughable as thinking that her participation in it would guarantee Jamison’s acceptance or even a readiness to listen.
“I booked us a historic hotel in the French Quarter,” Jamison said, scrolling through her phone. “It looks amazing.”
“Historic means noisy and non-working bathrooms.”
Jamison didn’t look up. “How would you know?” she mumbled. “It’s not like you go anywhere.”
Jerking the wheel, Evie shot the car into the right lane for the next exit. She’d never been on the interstate before and was learning to take out her frustrations by driving like a crazy person at high speed. It was very therapeutic.
“We need gas.”
Jamison held on for dear life as Evie took the exit ramp at full speed, swerving to the right at the first gas station. The car screeched to a stop in front of a row of pumps.
“You’re paying.”
“Actually, Fairweather Holdings is paying.” Jamison whipped out her company credit card. “I’ll be back.”
“Goodie.”
While Jamison pumped the gas, Evie checked her messages. Nothing from Samuel, and only one from Annabeth, saying Abe was awake but was still unaware that they had left.
There was one from Lucas, requesting that they meet up to talk, but Evie deleted it without fully reading what he had to say. Lucas was a nice guy, but there was no need to involve herself with him further, even as friends. She was with Samuel, who was a jealous beast and would appreciate her keeping in touch with an ex about as much as he was going to appreciate her and Jamison’s vanishing act.
Thinking about how furious, or worse, how hurt Samuel was going to be when he realized they were gone made Evie sick. The sting of what he had done remained, but with each passing mile, the burn lessened, and somewhere between Alabama and Mississippi, she’d come to the rational conclusion that he wouldn’t have kept that information from her without reason.
Her fingers itched to call or message him, letting him know they were okay and would be back soon. He wouldn’t see it until the interview was over, but at least it might help him remain calm when he found out what they had done.
Or maybe not.
Jamison returned and buckled in. “Did someone call?”
“No, it was just a text from Lucas.”
“How could you give a guy like that up for Samuel?”
Done tiptoeing around her sister’s feelings, Evie started the car. “Because I love Samuel.”
“Ugh, stop.”
“And I have loved him for most of my life.”
Jamison crossed her arms and stared out the window. “We need to save this conversation for when we get home.”
Merging back onto the interstate, Evie’s chokehold on the steering wheel continued, and she launched the car into traffic. “We could always go home now.”
“I don’t see why you can’t do this one thing for me,” Jamison snapped. “It’s not like I ask for much out of you.”
