That’s when Lars showed him his sidearm. Well, really, he was just reaching for his wallet, saying there was an extra twenty in it if Ephrain got us to the airport in under twenty minutes.
But I’m pretty sure the Glock spoke more than the twenty.
Ephrain didn’t hesitate. He put the pedal to the metal. Well, at least until we got to the first traffic light.
This is excruciating. We’re never going to make it.
Except that we HAVE to. I can’t let Michael go—not without a fight. I can’t end up like my dad, with no one special in my life, dating supermodel after supermodel, because I allowed the person I really loved to slip through my fingers!
And sure, it’s possible that when I get to the airport, Michael will be like, “Get away.” Because, let’s face it—I screwed up. Not that I didn’t have a right to be hurt by what Michael did.
But I guess I should maybe have been a little bit more understanding and a little less judgmental.
Everyone TRIED to tell me. Mom. Tina. Lilly. Dad.
But I wouldn’t listen.
Why didn’t I listen?
And WHY did I kiss J.P.???? WHY WHY WHY?????
All I can do is try to explain. That it didn’t mean anything—that J.P.’s just a friend. That I’m a horrible, terrible person, and that I deserve to be punished.
Only not by Michael’s never speaking to me again. ANYTHING but that.
And even if Michael is like, “Get away,” at least maybe I’ll be able to sleep tonight. Because I’ll have tried. I’ll have tried to make things right.
And maybe just knowing I tried will be enough.
Lars was just like, “Princess. I don’t think we’re going to make it.”
That’s because we’re currently stuck behind a stalled tractor-trailer on the bridge.
“Don’t say that, Lars. We’re going to make it. We HAVE to make it.”
“Maybe you should call him. To let him know we’re on our way. So he doesn’t go through security right away.”
“I can’t CALL him.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’ll never pick up if he sees it’s me. After what he saw me do outside Chemistry?”
Lars raised his eyebrows. “Oh,” he said. “Right. I forgot about that. But what if he’s already gone through security?” Lars wanted to know. “You won’t be able to get through without a ticket.”
“Then I’ll buy a ticket.”
“To JAPAN? Princess, I don’t think—”
“I won’t actually GO to Japan,” I assured him. “I’ll just go to the gate to find him.”
“You know I can’t let you go alone.”
“I’ll buy a ticket for you, too.” Fortunately I have my emergency-only royal Genovian black American Express card on me. I’ve never actually used it before. But this IS what my dad gave it to me for: emergencies.
And this is an emergency, all right.
“I think you should just call him,” Lars said. “He might pick up. You never know.”