Page 60 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

As Botsford Manor fades in my rearview mirror, the rock in my stomach feels more like a boulder.

I hate lying. Especially to Knox.

I really am a bad kitty, aren’t I?

Needing a reprieve from my own thoughts, I turn on the radio as I weave slowly through Las Vegas traffic.

“It’s drama in the rock section this morning after Logan Shock of The Electrics pulled little Katrina Benton on stage last night at their show in Las Vegas!”Jonny Red says, his token weasel-like voice making everything sound so... weasel-like.“Can’t imagine big brother Knox is too happy about that right now since the two frontmen nearly came to blows in this very studio earlier this summer! Stay tuned for more, because this drama is just heating up?—”

I flick it off and groan, embracing the silence all the way home.

When I reach my house, I park my car in the driveway and rush to get inside before someone sees me.

Before I open the front door, a car comes to a sudden stop in front of the house, the tires squealing on the pavement as the horn blares.

“Hey!”a voice shouts at me.“There she is!”

Panic grips me, and I move faster through the door.

“Katrina! Wait up!”

I glance back over my shoulder, recognizing the voice.

Tesla?

A bright red convertible idles on the street. Top down. Goldie’s in the driver’s seat, her mess of golden curls barely tamed with a blue bandana.

Beside her, Tesla waves me over from the passenger side.

“Come on!” Tesla howls across the lawn loud enough to draw the neighbor’s attention, and she surely will if I don’t go over there. “Let’s go!”

I dart down the path towards the car. “Hey,” I say once I’m in speaking range. “What are you guys doing here?”

“What’s it look like?” Goldie asks. “We’re picking you up.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Get in, loser!” Tesla grins. “We’re going thrifting.”

“Thrifting?”

Tesla pushes her door open and steps outside. “Las Vegas has some of the best thrift shops in the world and I’ve got cash burning holes in my purse. So, let’s go!” She gestures me into the backseat.

I don’t move. “You… want me to go shopping with you?”

“Uh...yeah.”Tesla slaps the open door. “Hurry your pretty ass up!”

Goldie howls into the air, her hand slapping the car horn impatiently, the sound echoing through the neighborhood. “Thrift shop! Thrift shop! Thrift shop!”

Tesla smiles. “You coming or not?”

I look them over; their sincere eyes and welcoming smiles. There’s a long list of reasons I shouldn’t go, and only one for why I should.

It sounds like fun.

I climb into the back seat amid another wave of welcome shouts and laughter.

Tesla slides her sunglasses back over her nose. “Goldie...” She raises her hand, filling the moment with anticipation before pointing forward.“Drive.”

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