Page 15 of Dust to Dust

Without a word, we both nodded and then started out into the hallway. Brooke’s best friend, Jennie, was taking care of Henry while we were gone. She bounced him in her arms outside my room.

“What do you think of your auntie Isla?” I cooed. His eyes widened before his lip quivered. “Oh no. It’s just me, sweet pea.”

An indignant howl erupted from him. “Great. I just traumatized him with my slutty look.”

“Yes, I’m sure this will be the day he talks about in therapy instead of his jackass of an absentee father,” Brooke teased.

I laughed. “Smartass.”

We then pounded down the stairs. As we hurried into the kitchen, I grabbed the keys. Holding them out to Brooke, I asked, “Can you drive?”

“Sure.”

As we headed out of the kitchen and into the garage, I said, “When we get there, you can just wait for me in the car.”

“Screw that. I’m coming in with you.”

I rolled my eyes as I opened the passenger side door. “There’s no way in hell they’re going to let you come in. You aren’t twenty-one.”

A wicked gleam flashed in Brooke's eyes as she dug her wallet out of her purse. “But my ID says that I am.”

With a shriek of horror, I snatched the card out of her hand. “Where did you get this?”

Shrugging, she replied, “A friend of a friend.”

After eyeing the front and the back, I said, “This is a really good quality one.”

Brooke nudged me playfully. “And how would you know, Saint Isla?”

I snorted. “I might be slightly angelic, but I’m sure as hell not a saint.”

“You disappoint me. I never imagined a sister of mine would have a fake ID.”

“What if I told you I got it to be able to get into high-tech labs, rather than for alcohol?”

Brooke threw her head back with a laugh. “Now that sounds like you.”

“Whatever.” With a flick of my wrist, I handed her back the ID. “Come on. Let’s go.”

After she shoved her ID back in her wallet, Brooke walked around the front of my car. When she got in and cranked up, I willed the rising bile in my throat not to spew all over the dashboard.

To get my mind off of the audition, I started playing with the radio–pinging between True Crime and The Life Scientific podcasts. By the time we arrived in front of Alainn, I fought to keep from having a panic attack.

After Brooke flicked on the blinker to head into the parking garage, she turned to look at me. “Just say the word, and we’ll Thelma and Louise it out of here.”

A laugh burst from me. It certainly lightened my mood. “No. I’m doing this.”

“You look like you’re about to piss your pants.”

“Maybe they’ll have a Golden Shower kink.”

It was Brooke’s turn to burst out laughing. “Now you’re talking like a stripper.”

“Dancer.”

She gave me a genuine smile. “Semantics.”

My expression grew serious. “I’m doing this, B. I’m doing it so that one day I’ll be Dr. Vaughn and debt free from student loans. Not to mention, you’ll be a college graduate, and Henry will be well-adjusted and happy.”

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