Page 10 of Stay With Me

“That’s ridiculous, Tri. I can drive my car.” Now I’m the one rolling my eyes. “Plus, it’s only an hour and a half from the university to your house.”

“No. I’ve been driving longer. I’ll feel better if I drive it. I’ll grab my wallet from the truck.” Trina’s tone doesn’t leave much room for arguing and she turns and walks back to Charlie’s vehicle.

I turn toward Charlie, my eyes pleading with him to help me.

“Sorry, Em. I agree with her. Plus, cut her some slack. She had a call at work two weeks ago for a terrible car accident and not everyone survived.” Charlie lowers the volume of his voice on that last bit, clearly not wanting Trina to hear him. “If you don’t want to ride with me, Trina can drive my truck and I’ll drive your car.”

“What?” I didn’t mean it at all like that and now I feel kind of shitty for making Charlie think that was even a possibility. “I don’t mind riding with you. I’m just not seeing why it’s okay for Trina to risk herself, but not me.”

“Because you’re my younger sister, so you have to listen to me. That’s why,” Trina says, as she approaches us.

I decide to give up and hand her my keys, ready to get back to Elladine.

“C’mon, Charlie. Let’s get this show on the road!” I pull my sister into a hug, then make my way toward Charlie’s truck.

Once we’re inside, I sync my phone to his Bluetooth and set my music to play.

Charlie looks at the display and sees the name of the artist scrolling across the screen and groans.

“Oh, no… You’re not going to make me listen to boy bands the entire way home, are you?”

“Hey, you’re the one who wanted me to ride with you.” I try my best not to smirk. “It’s this or we could talk. You could catch me up on everything happening in your life and all the Elladine gossip I’ve missed since I was at school this summer.”

Charlie runs a hand through his hair. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about him over the last four years, it’s that Charlie isn’t one for idle chatter, and he’s definitely not one for gossip. He’s more of the strong, silent type.

Don’t get me wrong. When he has something to say, he’ll say it.

He releases a deep sigh. “Play your music. But if my ears bleed, you’re the one who will have to explain it to Trina when we get home.”

* * *

CHARLIE

Forty minutes into the ninety-minute drive from Emily’s college back to Elladine, I can’t take it anymore. I’ve caught Emily’s intermittent side glances in my direction and, after each one, she’s found an even more annoying song to play than the one that preceded it. I’m guessing she’s amusing herself by finding the most cringeworthy music to play and observing my reactions.

I reach over and press the button to turn off the music.

“You win. What do you want to talk about?” We’re at a red-light now so I glance over at her.

She lets out a fake shocked gasp and holds her hand to her chest, her mouth agape.

“Why, Charlie, I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

Her devious smirk says otherwise.

“Uh huh. Sure, you don’t, sunshine.”

She wastes no time diving into conversation. “But since you’d rather talk than listen to music, tell me about your girlfriend. Trina said you have a new one.”

I chuckle. Emily is a hopeless romantic who thinks everyone should have a partner.

“Nice try. But Trina knows I don’t have a girlfriend. I just go on dates sometimes.” I pick up my soda to take a sip, my mouth suddenly feeling dry as a bone.

“Still, tell me about her. Is she tall, ginger-haired, and boobalicious like Shelly was?”

I gasp and nearly aspirate my soda into my lungs.

“Jesus, woman. Boobalicous? Really? What does that even mean? Never mind, don’t?—”

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