Night Road

“Uh. No. And about Zach…”

“What about him?” Mia kicked back the covers and got out of bed. She stood there, a little unsteady on her feet, looking around the room for her pants.

“They’re in the dryer. You puked on them last night. ”

“Gross. ” Mia padded out of the bedroom and headed down the hallway. The trailer shuddered at the weight of her steps.

Lexi followed Mia, stood in the hall while her friend slipped back into her jeans. She was about to bring up Zach again when Eva came out of her bedroom.

“Hey, Eva,” Mia said with an obviously forced smile. “Thanks for letting me spend the night last night. ”

Eva said, “You’re always welcome. Did you have fun last night?”

Mia smiled again, but it was ragged; her skin was a little gray. “We did. It was great. ” She put an arm around Lexi. “I don’t know what I’d do without Lexi. She’s the best friend ever. ”

Outside, a car horn honked.

“That’ll be my mom,” Mia said. “She texted me last night. We’re going to visit my grandmother today. I better go. ”

Lexi followed Mia to the front door. In her mind, she blurted out her secret several times, and they laughed about it; in truth, she said nothing, just stared at Mia’s long blond hair.

At the front door, Mia hugged her fiercely. “Thanks, Lexi. I mean it. ” She drew back, looking a little uncertain. “I’m sorry, you know. I shouldn’t have lost it like that. You’ll come to the dance with Ty and me, right?”

“Like I’m not lame enough already,” Lexi said.

“Don’t say that. We’ll have a blast. ”

Outside, the car horn honked again.

“She’s so OCD,” Mia said, opening the door.

The white Mustang was parked out front, its engine purring, exhaust melting into the fog.

Zach got out of the car and stood there, staring at Lexi over the Mustang’s white roof. Rain pelted his face, made him blink.

Mia flung her hoodie over her head and ran down to the car, getting in.

Lexi was certain she saw Zach shake his head slightly, as if to say, it never happened … it can’t happen. Then he got back into his car.

Lexi watched them drive away, then went back into the trailer, closing the door behind her. He didn’t want her to tell Mia. Was that what he’d meant?

Eva sat at the kitchen table, her hands cupped around her mug. “His car woke me up last night,” she said, looking up. “So I went to the window. I din’t expect you to come home. ”

Lexi tried to imagine the scene Eva had witnessed: Lexi practically carrying Mia up the stairs; Mia collapsing on the floor, singing. “I thought we’d be staying at the Farradays’. ”

“I’m pretty sure I know why you din’t. ”

Lexi sat down across from Eva. “I’m sorry,” she said, too ashamed to make eye contact. Aunt Eva would be disappointed in her now, maybe she’d even wonder if Lexi was like her mother after all.

“You want to talk about it?”

“I didn’t drink anything, if that’s what you think. I saw … my mom drink, so I’m…” She shrugged. There was no way to put all of that emotion into a few careful words. “I didn’t drink anything. ”

Eva reached across the table and took hold of Lexi’s hands. “I’m no warden, Alexa. You wouldn’t know it to look at me, but I remember what it’s like to be young, and I know how the world works. A girl can get in real trouble when she’s in that condition. She can make a bad decision. I would hate for you to get hurt. ”

“I know. ”

“I know you know. And one more thing: Mia and her brother aren’t like you. Those two got choices you don’t. They’ll get breaks you won’t. You understand me?”