Page 24 of Fireball

“Yay!”

Desperate to get the gown off my trembling body, I yank down the zipper while she cheers. The sexy lingerie underneath is even worse. I was going to give myself to the man who I thought really cared.

God! I don’t know when I turned into such a moron, but I’ll never let that mistake happen again.

Chelsea hands me a fresh drink. Might as well numb the pain. I grab the champagne, hold up the flute as a toast to her, and empty the entire glass in one swallow. Just like the alcohol we enjoyed this afternoon, the flavor is sweet and crisp, and unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before. Now I know why the rich love being so rich.

I hold my hand back out for a refill. If tonight is my last night with her, I might as well enjoy everything I can.

Addie

Idon’t know why I can’t stop giggling. Everything Chelsea says cracks me up.

Well, really I guess it’s the reactions of the bodyguards when she tells them webothneed tampons that’s hysterical. Guys are so gullible. The three of them look everywhere but at us while we sit in her convertible, and they argue amongst themselves. None of them want to deal with periods. Welcome to our world.

My friend ignores their uncertainty. Her plan—that I’ve kind of agreed to—is working. After a quick door slam and punch to the ignition, we’re racing down the driveway. She’s completely sober but weaving on the cobblestone like she’s the one who emptied an entire bottle of champagne all by herself instead of me. Although I’m tipsy, I’m clearheaded enough to yank on my seatbelt. If Titan’s cruelty doesn’t kill me, her driving certainly will.

Tires squeal as we round a corner and fly out onto the road. I don’t think she even looked to see if anyone was coming. Her speed gave us a head start, but the goons have caught up. One luxury SUV barrels past our car and then swoops in front of us while the other vehicle tailgates from behind. We’re trapped between them, but Chelsea seems oblivious to the tight security, guiding the steering wheel with her elbow while she applies lipstick with one hand and smooths a tiny glob of mascara on her eyelash with the other.

“Chanel and Whitney are supposed to meet us—“

When she glances over at me to talk, I gently press my palm to her cheek, forcing her to look at the road. “Pay attention.”

Her carefree laugh swirls in the wind, and she grabs the wheel with both hands. “How’s this? Mr. Beadle told me to pretend it’s a clock and hold on to ten and two.”

Thank God. “Good job.”

She beams from my praise and wiggles in her seat. No one can destroy her happiness.

“Which is weird though since it’s not always ten or two, see?”

A long yellow fingernail points to the dash reading 8:54. “He was weird but since Titan refused to teach me after I backed into the swimming pool, I had to go with it.”

Involuntarily, I almost release the grab bar and my cushion to massage my forehead. Now I know why Titan always has a headache.

No. I push the thought of him out of my head. Tonight is for Chelsea. “So, you drove through the garage wall and ended up in the pool?”

All the humor leaves her expression, and she nods slowly and seriously. “Yes, but it was a total accident. I was trying to see what I looked like going in reverse and dropped my phone and pressed the accelerator too hard and whoops! Suddenly I was flying through the back yard. But you know my brother. He gets all mad about the tiniest stuff.”

I love her. “You mean just replacing your car, rebuilding the garage, and repairing the pool. Small things like that right?”

“Exactly!” She reaches for me and squeezes my hand clutching the seat for dear life. “You so get me.”

I get that she’s going to miss her turn and point to the entrance of the CVS. “Um Chelsea?”

“Shit!”

She spins us into the parking lot, and I bounce up and down as we zoom over the curb and crash through a planter with pink and white petunias. Unfazed by the damage to her car or the flowerpots, she hurdles into the empty space in front of the doors. Which is not an actual parking spot.

A joyous smile fills her face as she turns to me and winks. “Come on, let’s go get our stuff.”

Terrible acting but with her normal outrageous behavior, I’m not sure the men can tell the difference. The vehicle remains running while she climbs out. I’m not sure if this is part of her ploy or just her normal inattentiveness, so I don’t mention the issue.

Besides, I’m eager to get away from the surveillance too. With as much grace as I can manage, I exit the convertible too. The heels and liquor control my limbs more than I do. Luckily, I only wobble a little and follow her inside.

The store closes in a few minutes, and the clerk behind the counter is busy straightening the gum and candies on the plastic ledges under the cash register. Chelsea breezes right past him toward the middle aisle with a small doorway at the end. A red and white restroom sign hangs above the opening.

“There’s usually a storage room by the bathrooms.”

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