Page 67 of Final Offer
I don’t check my phone until I tape up the last box.
Lana
Care to explain why Cami has spent the last two hours watching boatbuilding videos on YouTube?
Lana
Never mind. I finally got the answer out of her.
It takes me a whole pathetic minute to come up with a reply.
And?
Her reply comes through a second later.
Lana
Is it true that you offered to build a boat with her?
My fingers fly across the screen before I hit send.
More like I was bribed.
Lana
Then don’t worry about it…
Shit.As nervous as I got from Cami’s request earlier, I’d hate to disappoint her after how excited she looked.
In an act of desperation, I send a rapid-fire text without thinking twice about it.
She offered to be my bestest friend ever if I agreed. I would be stupid to say no, especially with how many enemies I have in this town.
The bubbles pop up before disappearing, only to appear again. It happens twice before a new message appears on my phone.
Lana
Don’t make me regret this.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Lana
The options are endless whenever you’re concerned.
I can always count on you to knock me down.
Lana
At least I’m consistent.
She also sends an upside-down smiley face and a shrugging woman emoji. With a smile, I reply with a middle finger emoji.
I spend the rest of my afternoon with a stupid smile on my face, long after our conversation ended. The pressure in my chest is replaced by a lightness I haven’t felt in a while, and my usual urge to drink while sorting through my personal items is absent.
It’s a small win for an addict like me, but a win nonetheless, so I’ll take it.
On my way to drop off the final box in the garage, I pass by the living room. Cami is sprawled out on the couch, fast asleep while wearing a sailor costume. An adult-sized captain’s hat is thrown on the floor beside her right next to an empty juice box.
