Page 40 of Side Trip

The Beetle’s cab wasn’t cooling fast enough for Joy’s liking. She debated lowering the top, but Dylan wouldn’t be able to sleep. He’d end up grumpier than he was.

She fanned her blouse and tugged her shorts hem. She was melting and the clothes she’d selected to wear today were beyond uncomfortable. The material scratched and didn’t breathe. How had Judy tolerated wearing this style? Thank goodness Joy had to wear them only for a short ten days. She had purchased her clothes from vintage shops in Los Angeles solely for this trip and planned to donate them as soon as she settled in New York. But what she wouldn’t give to slip into the cutoff jean shorts and T-shirt she had stashed in the trunk. She’d feel much more comfortable in this miserable, dry heat.

But Judy wouldn’t have worn those, she reminded herself. She also reminded herself why she was on this trip, and it wasn’t about her comfort or to figure out what was going on with her passenger.

Dylan folded his arms tightly over his chest. Part of the tattoo on his left shoulder slipped out from under the edge of his sleeve. It looked like the base of a compass with an arrow pointing south to a musical note instead of anS.

Joy threw the car into reverse.

She was not curious about his tattoo. She didn’t care what the rest looked like, or what it meant.

Dylan toed off his shoes and Joy exited the parking lot, leaving him to his thoughts as she got lost in her own. And like the compass pointing south on his arm, Joy’s mind aimed her directly back to a memory marker, once again picking up right where she’d left off: face-to-face with Judy.

“What are you doing here?” Judy had demanded, forcing her way past Kevin and into his room. “Do Mom and Dad know you’re here?”

Judy advanced and Joy scooted back on the bed, fumbling for words. She didn’t know what to say without sounding like an idiot in front of Kevin.

Judy reached the bed and gasped. “They don’t know!” She slanted Joy a look. “How did you get here?”

“I—I got a ride,” Joy stammered, rising to her knees so that she didn’t feel so small.

“From who? I know everyone at this party and they aren’tyourfriends.”

“Kevin’s my friend.” Her gaze darted to him. His eyes widened at being called out. He looked at her, the floor, the window, seeming genuinely uncomfortable, making Joy feel more awkward than she already was.

Judy thrust a perfectly polished fingernail at Joy. “Why, you little sneak. You stowed away in my car.”

“No, I—”

“You did! I knew something weird was going on. The blanket in the back wasn’t where Dad had left it. I’m calling him.” She dropped an overnight bag and pillow on the bed and yanked her phone from the front pocket of her skintight ankle jeans.

“Don’t you dare!” Joy lunged at Judy, making a grab for the phone. Judy dodged her and Joy face-planted on the bed, arms dangling over the edge.

“They’ll blame me if I don’t tell them what you did. They’ll take back the car. I’m not getting grounded over this.” Judy flipped open the phone, pressed buttons, and waited, eyes shooting lasers at Joy.

A wildfire of embarrassment ignited within Joy. She could feel her cheeks turn blotchy and red because Kevin was witnessing this whole, miserable sibling debacle. Why did Judy always have to obey the rules?

Panic welled inside her, a Yellowstone geyser of alarm. Their parents were going to ground her for the entire summer if Judy got hold of them. Gone were her hot summer days boarding with Taryn at the skate park and surfing on the weekends. Her mom would yank her from the team. She wouldn’t see Kevin again until school started. It would be her worst summer ever.

Judy swore and shoved the phone back into her pocket. “No signal.”

Joy sagged with relief, her elbow knocking into Judy’s belongings.Please don’t call them,she wanted to plead. But the stuff on the bed caught her attention.

“What’s with the pillow?”

“I’m crashing here.”

“What? No! You can’t. I have to get home.”

“Tough beans, sis. You should have asked me about my plans before you hid under a blanket.” She showed Joy her phone. “You want to call Dad for a ride?”

“Heck no! Why can’t you drive me? It won’t take long.”

Judy stuck her face in Joy’s. “Don’t you get it? Ican’tdrive.”

“Why not?” Joy asked, rising to her feet so that she stood toe-to-toe with Judy, only to finally notice her eyes. Glassy and red-rimmed. Her cheeks were rosy and her breath reeked. She also noticed the faint beer stain on the front of Judy’s blouse. Judy was drunk.

Joy was so screwed.

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