Page 3 of Lemon Crush

I could try. If I ignored the blistering Texas heat, the bugs, the truck nutz, the giant mall churches, the Lone Stars or bluebonnets stamped on everything and the politics, I supposed this wasn’t the worst place in the world to have a midlife breakdown.

Yeehaw.

That was you trying?

I’d give it another shot after I finished my coffee.

Morgan slid her arm through mine, either in a show of affection or to keep me from bolting back to the safety and anonymity of the CRV that was currently being cavity searched by guys with guns. They wouldn’t find anything in there but dust and pollen. Maybe the piece or six of candy that had dropped between my seats last winter, when I was trying to pass a Jeep while ripping open a bag with my teeth. I knew they were still in there somewhere, since Myrtle’s interior gave off the scent of melted butterscotch on really hot days.

“It smells like antifreeze, so it’s probably your radiator.”

I made a sound of disbelief. “You Googled that on your phone, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t have to.” She tapped her temple. “It’s all right here.”

I didn’t doubt it. Her best friend was a mechanic, her husband was obsessed with amateur car racing, and Morgan would have made it her business to know everything about something she used every day. She was all about thorough preparation. She did it for her life, her job, and the vacations she and Gene had been on nearly every summer since he’d gone into remission. Montana, Thailand, Belize…

This trip wasn’t so much a vacation as an emotional journey. One with scenery I’d dreamt of experiencing for so long that I’d actually written about it in one of my books. Lago Maggiore had a magical ring to it.

Your characters would call this trip a quest.

Yes, and I was missing it. Because at this point inmystory, Icouldn’t manage a quest to the grocery store, or this airport, without it becoming a cautionary tale.

I made my lips curve in the semblance of a smile for Morgan’s sake. “The good news is, I got you here in one piece. And now that a tow truck is on its way and these guys are almost finished violating Myrtle’s freedoms, we can focus on what really matters. Like, do you have everything you need for the flight?”

As soon as the question came out of my mouth, I chuckled. “What am I saying? You’re so organized you could run a small country. Travel tip: Don’t take over any small countries while you’re away.”

“I make no promises,” she said, totally deadpan.

My smile grew more genuine and I held out my arms. “Bring it in, sis. Hug me goodbye and then go and enjoy your fancy breakfast in the first-class lounge until it’s time to board. I’ve got this, and I’ll only cry on the officers and embarrass myself a little bit after you’ve gone. Seriously, I’ll be fine,” I added, slowly lowering my arms when Morgan made no move to embrace me.

Instead, her restrained expression transformed into one of frustrated anger.

“You don’thave this, and nothing is fine, August. You arenotfine.” She gestured to what I was guessing was everything about me in general before pointing at Myrtle. “The unnecessary car calamity we almost had? That wasnotfine. And you’re crazy if you think I could leave my sister standing outside the airport dressed like a homeless person with her life in shambles so I can go have pancakes.”

That was actually…a lot for Morgan.

She must have realized it too, because she took a calming breath and lowered her voice. “This is difficult for both of us and we’re under a lot of stress right now. I don’t think this is what either of us had in mind when I agreed to you dropping us off.”

She might not have imagined this exact scenario, but partof her had to have expected something like it. I mean, this was me we were talking about. Saying I wasn’t at my best was an understatement for the ages, though she’d never put it out there quite so directly before. Then again, we hadn’t had a real conversation in the last sixteen months.

That shambles comment might sting a little, but it sounded right to me.

“At least I’m wearing clean underwear.” My clever attempt at tension-easing levity dropped at the precise moment the officers walked up to join us.

“Car’s clear,” one of them said uncomfortably. The other looked on without expression, though I knew they’d both heard me. “We still need to keep this area moving. We’ve got tow trucks on site if the guy your husband called doesn’t get here in the next five minutes.”

“He will, and thank you again for understanding.” Morgan gave them a smile that said she’d had enough of their bullshit, but she had a flight to catch and no time to throw down. “In fact, I think I see him now.”

Genecalled the tow truck?

I had an ominous premonition that gave me chills despite the pre-dawn heat. I didn’t want it to be who I thought it was. There was no way my morning was about to go from worst case embarrassment to apocalyptic humiliation.

A door slammed on the other side of my car and Morgan said, “I’m so sorry, Wade. I told Gene not to bother you at this hour, but he refused to leave her paying an arm and a leg for a stranger that might not get her safely home.”

Gah. Why hadn’t it occurred to me that they’d call their closest friend,themechanic who owned his own garage, to tow my car?

Too bad I couldn’t melt into the grimy, stained concrete beneath my slippers and magically reappear back in the safety ofmy living room. That would be a convenient power to have right now.

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