Page 26 of Free to Run
We pull up to a stop sign, and I touch her arm. “Hold on.”
I’d turned my phone back on a while ago and was doing a great job of ignoring it. I pull it from my purse and scroll to the camera app. Flipping it around, I take a selfie of the two of us. I show it to Cori before she starts driving, then send it to the family in our group text with the note, “Out with Cori. We’ll be home whenever.”
I read what I’m typing aloud. Corinna lets out a delicate sneer. “That’ll piss off the assorted people trying to reach you.”
“Let it. I’m done trying to be anything but what I am. Today, with you, reminded me of that.”
“Good.” She reaches over and grips my hand. “I was worried we were losing you, Ali. I’m not ready for that.”
Does she expect me to leave one day? I wonder if Corinna doesn’t have a bit of magic behind those eyes. “What do you mean?”
Sighing, she keeps a hold of my hand while she downshifts. “You, me, and Hols. Of the three of us, you’ve always been about ten paces ahead of us. We thought you were pulling away because you were ready to leave Collyer. We didn’t even come close to thinking it was because of crap Cass and Em are dishing out.”
Jesus.
“Cori, you know if I ever decide to leave, I’ll tell you. And I promise I’ll tell you if it’s for a specific reason, okay?”
Taking her focus off the road for a second, she sends me a baleful look. “You better. At least I can tell Hols then.”
I laugh, knowing everything I shared with Corinna today will at some point be shared with Holly, as it should. “I promise. And I’m telling you the truth: I have no immediate plans to leave Collyer, not even for a vacation.”
“Good.” She drives quietly, looking thoughtful. “If you decide to head to Washington to kick Colby’s ass, I want to go with you. I might enjoy watching.”
I throw my head back and laugh. I’m so glad some of what I said to her got through.
She smiles at me and cranks the volume on the radio.
* * *
It’sabout six in the evening when we pull into the farm. I’ve never been so glad for summer as I am right now. Corinna is driving super slow, trying to mask our attempt in making the mile-long drive to my house unnoticed. We’re hoping the sound of the early-evening birds will cover up our giggling as we sneak past Em’s house and slowly drive past Cassidy’s. We’re like schoolgirls sneaking in past curfew.
Keene’s car has moved from my house over to Cassidy’s, and that’s fine. His focus should be on his sister, not me.
We pull up to the outside of my house, and Corinna idles her car. I give her a huge hug. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“No thanks needed. We both needed this.”
“We need this more often,” I suggest. I forgot how much time with my sisters recharges me.
“Done. Next time, let’s bring Hols too.”
I beam at her before I slide out of her car. She toots the horn before driving away. I stand there for a few moments, holding on to my phone and purse. The events of the day are running through my head when I’m interrupted by a furious voice.
“Are you done running so we can finally talk?”
* * *
After storming past Keene,I throw on the lights as I enter my house. I’m infuriated he’s here and show him zero hospitality as I head through my kitchen, throw open the sliders, and point. “Outside.”
“I’m not a lapdog you can just order around, Alison.” Keene’s hands are on his lean hips, and he’s smirking. “Generally, people like it when they’re asked to do something nicely.”
After Corinna spent so much time boosting me up today, Keene’s snark grates.
“And generally, people wait to be invited over and don’t stake out someone’s house. I’ve decided you’re going to get the attitude you cultivate, and to hell with what anyone thinks about me for giving it to you,” I growl back. “I didn’t ask you to come here. Let’s make this quick so you can go back to visiting your sister.”
Keene doesn’t say anything. Instead, he silently walks past me until he’s outside, standing on my deck. “Does my sister realize your temper is this ferocious?”
“Yes.” There’s no need to tell him we’re usually arguing about him.
