Page 11 of Falling Backwards
I twist anxiously in my seat to look behind us for pedestrians who might’ve had a close call just now.Thankfully, I see none.
Look at that.It’s all right.No one was in the wrong place at the wrong time.No one was truly in danger.
Relief is what my heartbeats are stumbling with now.
With a sigh, I settle back into my seat, ready for the swell of panic to lower from its quick peak.
A hand closes around my arm and squeezes.“You okay?”
I glance over to protective Emma, then to the front seat where Joy is turned around enough to extend her own fingers back to me, her expression pinched and worried in the lights we’re passing.I grasp for both of their hands, and we spend a few moments simply holding on, wordlessly assuring one another that everything is fine.
“I really am sorry,” the driver cuts in nervously.
In my peripheral vision, Emma shakes her head.
And unlike with our first driver of the night, Joy doesn’t respond kindly to the apology.She sends the guy a cold sidelong glare that doesn’t seem out of place even on her—there are some things you can’t say,‘It’s okay,’about.Putting people in danger by being stupid is one of them.
But it is smart of him to realize how upset we are.Heshouldbe more careful and keep in mind what kinds of consequences could come from him driving like an idiot.
Here’s hoping that will stick with him after we’re gone.
The ride to our four-story brick-and-glass building isn’t long enough for me to fully calm down before we arrive.I only really start feeling better once we’re inside, knowing we’re back on our own feet and very close to home.It’s especially comforting to have my friends’ arms linked with mine while we walk, which the car hadn’t allowed; even having purses smushed between us can’t ruin that.
“How’s about we have one more drink upstairs?”Joy suggests as we crowd onto the elevator without letting go of each other.“Just us.Just some wine or something, and maybe more snacks, to wrap this day up without any other crap going on.Which was our entire goal to begin with.”
I nod.That sounds comforting as well.
Emma squeezes my arm with hers.“Yeah?I’m game.”
“Yeah,” I confirm.
“Settled,” Joy says.
After she presses the button for the second floor, she gasps, causing me and Emma to quickly look at her.She turns excited eyes on us.
“And we can turn on10 Things I Hate About You!”
Exhaustion aside, a smile breaks out on my face.
Emma exclaims, “Oh my God!Yes!”
My giggles are even returning.“Why did we even bother going out when we could’ve stayed home and done this stuff?”
They burst out laughing and agree with me big time—although Emma points out that we don’t know how to make margaritas and mojitos and snacks as good as the ones at Merritt’s.
True.
But you know, we could live without those things if we had to.What we can’t live without is each other.
Magnolia Moss, Emma Haledan, and Joy Ritchens.
Best friends for life.
CHAPTER
TWO
