Page 89 of Cross My Heart
Preston jumps over the back of the couch, running for the kitchen. “Holy shit, she did. Score!” He yells, “I was not looking forward to peeling freaking potatoes today.”
We all laugh, but I don’t feel the humor. For the next few hours the guys make small talk all around me. I stare blankly at the television.
* * *
Sitting on my couch,the very one Lanie often comments on, my phone rings. It’s Julia. “Hi, Jules...”
She cuts me off, “I don’t have long,” she says, “we just got to my house, Lanie is in the bathroom. All I can tell you is to get your ass on a plane now. She is going to need you if she is going to do what I think she is.”
My heart starts racing, and I feel sick. “What do you mean, Julia? What is she going to do?”
“I don’t have time to explain. A plane, now, bring the whole damn family, my parents will help. Just get here, asap. Go straight to my parent's house, you can all stay there.”
I’m looking at Trevor when Julia hangs up on me. There is something seriously wrong with this girl.
“Preston,” I yell, not realizing he had reentered the room, “anyone using your mom’s plane right now?” I’ve never called in favors like this before, so Preston and Trevor's concerned looks are warranted.
“Not that I know of, what’s going on?” Preston asks, looking all around the room.
“We are all going to Vermont,” I inform him, “well, the kids and I have to go to Vermont, if you guys want to come, we need to leave as soon as possible,” I tell their shocked faces.
“Okay, dude. I’ll call my mom right now and see how fast we can get the plane up and running. You coming too, Trev?” Preston asks.
Looking at him for the first time since I said we are going to Vermont, I notice he seems a little pale.
“Trevor? What’s up, man?” I ask, walking closer to him.
“What? Oh, nothing. No, sorry, I can’t. I can’t go to Vermont right now. I’ve got some things at work. I can’t leave at the moment.” He is lying, Preston and I both know it, and it worries me. Trevor is the most honest guy I know.
“Does this have anything to do with Julia?” I ask.
He rakes a hand through his hair and swears under his breath. I’ve got my answer.
“No,” he says, “maybe? I have too much shit in my life, she has her own too. We are just friends, but I do have something I can’t leave right now.” I’m not sure I have ever seen Trevor appear so unhinged.
“Are you alright?” I ask him. “Is something happening with your dad and all his…stuff?”
Turning his back on me, he says, “Drop it, Dex, alright? Just drop it. Come on, let's get the kids packed up. You’ll need an entire plane for all their crap.” He isn’t wrong, who knew little people required so much shit?
“Plane is all set, it’ll be ready to leave in an hour,” Preston informs me.
“Thanks, buddy, I owe you.” He ignores me, saying he’ll be back soon.
Two hours later, I’m sitting on a private plane with Tate, Sara, Harper, Preston, Sylvie, Easton, Shepherd, Cooper, and Ashton. Jesus, I hope Julia knew what she was getting when she said to bring everyone.
“Thanks, Julia.” I hear Preston say, one of the perks of a private plane, I guess.
“Why were you talking to Julia?” I ask.
“Dex, you know I love you, but if you think I’m going to sit in a car driving old mountain roads looking at cow pastures for two-plus hours after this plane ride, you’ve lost your God-damned mind. Somehow, Julia got permission for a chopper to land at their local hospital and will have rental cars waiting there for us.”
“Preston Westbrook,” I hear Sylvie scold. “That’s a bit excessive, don’t you think?”
“No way, Mom. Not the way Cooper is prone to getting car sick in the mountains. I looked this town up, it is seriously in the middle of nowhere. If he was in the car for two hours, he would definitely hurl.” Sylvie tsks him but doesn’t complain further. I’m not about to complain either since that means we will arrive much earlier than planned.
“Does that mean Julia knows to expect all of us too?” I ask him.
“It does. Her parents are setting us all up. She said it might be tight, but we can all make do for a couple of days.”
