Page 29 of The Lookback

“Okay, but.” I lean a little closer. “Don’t tell them the story until I’m back, alright?”

“They’re likely to string you up,” Mandy says. “I stopped at a bad spot.”

I can’t help my smile.

Mandy smiles back. “Yeah, we’ll wait for you.”

I’m laughing as I close the door, and I can hear her laughing, too. Part of the reason Mandy makes me so nuts is that she’s a little bit like me, at least, deep down she is. If she’d been born to my parents and I’d been born to hers, who knows if we’d have made the same decisions or done the same things.

But maybe.

I take my time showering, intent on making sure there’s no part of the disgusting nightmares that infested my house on my body or in my hair, but also because I love the idea of torturing everyone out there by making them wait. I can’t help thinking about what kind of person would fall in love with Amanda Saddler. Someone like David, probably. Some sap who thinks he can fix her or change her or repair her.

Idiot.

I wonder whether he moved on, or whether, in his heart of hearts, he’s still pining.

Is it bad I hope he’s still pining?

Not because I want him to be miserable, but because it seems like maybe Mandy has been. When I heard about Jed, it really bummed me out. Two people living next door their entire lives and being in love and never doing a thing about it?

It’s a depressing tragedy.

But a knight in a shining Lincoln Town Car, pulling into town now and sweeping her off her feet? Or, you know, up against his walker? That could be kind of. . .exciting.

It’s still depressing it happened so late for her, but also inspirational—it’s never too late to find the love of your life. Although, I don’t really have some kind of tragic flame from the past who would show up and profess his love for me. No, that’s not how my life goes. My ex was just supposed to apologize, but instead he basically took me to a nice place, told me how my current boyfriend wants kids, and ruined my present life.

Hopefully things don’t go like that for Mandy.

While I’m drying off, my phone bings. I’ve apparently missed a flurry of text messages from David.

MY PARENTS ARE MAKING ME CRAZY. I’M COMING OVER.

WHOA. WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOUR HOUSE??? THERE’S LIKE A TENT OVER IT AND PEOPLE IN WHITE JUMPSUITS MILLING AROUND OUTSIDE.

HOLD THE PHONE. YOU HAVEBEDBUGS?

I TRIED ABBY’S. YOU’RE NOT THERE. I CALLED ABBY, AMANDA, DONNA, AND BETH. ONLY BETH ANSWERED, AND SHE HAD NO IDEA WHERE YOU WERE, SO I’M HEADED TO AMANDA’S.

I hate that this town is so stinking small that everyone knows everyone’s business. This is ridiculous.

I’m typing him a text to tell him that I’m staying with Mandy when another one comes through.

YOU’RE NOT AT AMANDA’S, SO I’M GUESSING YOU’RE AT MANDY’S. I’M HEADED OVER.

For the love—I erase my obsolete text and tell him to come over. I WAS SHOWERING, I explain. I JUST GOT OUT. NIGHTMARE.

YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME.

DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE. Then I get dressed.

I’m just walking out of the bathroom when the doorbell rings. He got here fast. “It’s David,” I say. “Sorry. I had to tell him where I was—he’s been driving all over looking for me.”

But it’s not David. It’s Donna, her belly as big as a beachball, and a crying baby over her shoulder. “David came by. He said—” Her eyes widen. “What’s going on in here?”

“Yes, by all means,invite the whole town.” Mandy’s fuming. I’m not sure why she’s so mad, but it must have something to do with this guy who’s coming.

“I didn’t even invite Donna.” I spin around, but then I hear the sound of a car pulling up the drive behind me.

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