Page 97 of Side Trip

Dylan couldn’t absolve her guilt. But he’d asked her several times this past week to trust him. She did. Goodness, she’d jumped off a bridge because she trusted his word she’d be safe.

Joy started from the beginning, from her plan to tag along with Judy to the graduation party, to the meltdown on the driveway. She’d promised Taryn that she’d be there. But her parents refused to let Judy give her a ride. And her tantrum did nothing but serve her a one-night sentence in her room.

She told Dylan about the car, explaining the issue with the seat belts. But that hadn’t stopped Joy. She’d stowed away in the back, hiding on the floor under a blanket. She had her plan all worked out. She’d meet up with her friend Taryn, whose parents had a cabin down the street from the hosts of the graduation party. They’d invite Kevin over to Taryn’s for popcorn and movies, and then Joy would sneak back into Judy’s car before her sister left, and be home before her parents. No one in her family would know Joy had left her bedroom.

But her sister had no intention of driving home that night.

“I misheard my mom about the time Judy had to be home. I thought she meant eleven that night. She’d meant eleven the next morning. Then I find out that Taryn and her family canceled their plans to go to their cabin that weekend. Thing is, I didn’t know that until after I got up there and found their house dark and locked up.”

“What did you do?” Dylan asked, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand.

“I tried to lie low until it was time to go home,” she explained. Then she told him the rest, about Kevin, Judy, the dock, and Judy’s sudden announcement they were leaving.

“What happened? Where’s Todd?” Joy had asked her sister, breathless from running after her.

“Screw Todd,” Judy spat. She headed toward her car and Joy glimpsed her sister’s face under a streetlamp. Moisture reflected the light on her cheeks. Her eyes, red and puffy, darted away. Her ponytail hung limp and lopsided like a shamed dog’s tail.

“What did he do to you?” Joy asked. Judy loved Todd, and Joy liked him. He talked to her like she was a real person, not a bratty kid sister, when he came over to their house. And he was over the moon in love with Judy. He couldn’t keep his hands off her sister. They were always kissing when they didn’t think Joy could see them.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Judy said.

They reached the car. Judy yanked the door handle, then smacked the window with a flat palm. She glanced back toward the Dulcotts’ house. Joy could hear Pink’s “Get the Party Started” blaring through the outdoor speakers.

Judy swiped her wrist under her nose and sniffled. “I don’t have my keys. Mrs. Dulcott does.”

The key basket. “Go get them.”

Judy shook her head. “I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to see Todd withher.”

Joy’s mouth fell open. He really was with another girl. “Who’s he with?”

“None of your beeswax.”

Joy rocked onto her toes and considered their options. There wasn’t anywhere Judy could go without the risk of running into Todd. Joy couldn’t very well get the keys either. Mrs. Dulcott would never give the keys to her, Judy’s little sister. Then she remembered.

Joy tugged the spare keys from her shorts pocket and jangled them in the air.

Judy frowned. “How did you get my keys?”

“They’re the spares.” Judy stared at her blankly and Joy gave her a look. “How do you think I was supposed to get back into the car before you?”

“You stole my keys!”

“Borrowed them.”

“You are so busted when we get home.”

Joy fisted the keys. “You tell Mom and Dad anything, I won’t give you them.” Judy snorted derisively and Joy drew her arm back, ready to pitch them into the bushes.

“Wait!” Judy shrieked. “I won’t tell! Give me the keys.”

Joy tossed them over the car. They dropped onto the street. Judy disappeared behind the car.

“Got ’em.” She popped back up, showing off the keys. She unlocked the doors and they got in the car, Joy climbing into the back.

“Why are you sitting back there?” Judy asked.

“Seat belt.” A lap belt was better than no belt.

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