Page 34 of Love at First Sighting
“Amazon. They’re not that fancy,” Leonard says.
“Well, thanks, then. I’ll keep them safe. And thank you for all the help. We’ll play it smart and make sure you don’t get caught.”
“I won’t,” he says. I exchange a glance with El. “Trust me, I’m a good enough hacker that I won’t get caught. If something goes belly-up, it’ll be you guys who get in trouble.”
El laughs under her breath. “Comforting. Thank you.”
Chapter 9
El
“So, whatisG-Babez?” Carter asks as we begin our drive to the archive.
“It’s a gaming gear company,” I explain. “When you told me what Leonard was like, I totally knew he’d want to get in with them. I didn’t even have to give him my samples of their energy drink powder. I brought them just in case.”
“So, you just…called up their brand people?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m very charming, and as it turns out, the gamer circles don’t know about my…well, they don’t know I’m being exiled from beige bitch world.”
“Maybe that’s your new brand!” he says cheerfully. I know he’s trying to be encouraging, but the more time passes, the more I know I won’t be able to go back to my old life. Or my old brand. There’s part of me wondering if I evenwantto. The longer I spend with Carter, investigating our mystery, the more I think going back to a life where I take pictures of smoothies and sustainable linen shorts seems so dull and adventureless.
The problem is, I don’t know what the hell else I’m supposed to do. I don’t know what a girl like me, with my skills,is supposed to do in life. I doubt anyone’s going to take me seriously as anything more than a hot girl with great tits. Which is not a bad thing, but will it make me happy forever? Does it even make me happy now?
“Or maybe stealth-chic will be,” he continues, glancing across the front seat at me. His eyes glimmer under the moon and his smile is bright and conniving enough that I’m actually committing espionage with him. He’s got his hat tilted forward, one knee pressed against the dashboard, and one hand clinging to the safety handlebar above the window.
I know I’m a good driver, but Carter still grips it tighter whenever I make a sharp turn or merge too quickly. We opted to take my car because it makes far less noise and will make a better getaway option if we need it.
I put on one of my self-help podcasts as the city lights of LA vanish behind us and we drive into the darkened mountains. Carter asks if manifesting really works. I tell him it’s mostly a matter of believing and positive visualization. So, he positively visualizes us not getting arrested.
We pull up to a shoulder on the road, close to the pathway we can take up the mountain. As we park and unload from the car, Carter sighs and sets his hat back in the right position on his head.
“El, there’s time to back out of this if you want. Trust me, I’ll be fine on my own.”
I can’t tell if hewantsme out of the picture or not. I’m not sure if Carter sees me as an impediment in some way, like I’m just some pretty girl with nothing else to offer. I have to prove him wrong. I need him to know I’m far more than filters and sponsored content.
“No way. I’m coming with you. This involves me, too.”
“I know,” he says with a groan. “But I don’t want you to get hurt. This is shady PIS business and you don’t deserve to be dragged into it. You can always wait here.”
I shake my head. “No. You’re not doing this alone.”
Our eyes meet, and I realize it’s not dismissal in his expression. It’s care. He’d care if something happened to me, but I have to do this. Even if the only person whotrulyhas answers is me, I’ll know that what I went through was real. Bonus points if I can convince everyone else.
“I went to Fyre Festival,” I say. “I can handle anything.”
Carter’s lips part in a defeated sigh and his eyes slip shut. “Okay. Okay, let’s do this.”
It takes us less time than before to hike up the mountain and we’re both familiar with the terrain now.
“There’s got to be a better way to get up here. Could you imagine if you worked at this place? Parking down there and climbing up here?” I ask.
Carter huffs out a laugh and places his hands on my waist to steady me. “Careful. I’msurethey have a parking garagesomewhereout here. We just weren’t given a pass.”
“Rude.”
As we approach the embankment, Carter slides one earpiece in place and gives me the other. He crouches beside a rock and looks at the open clearing in front of us. The steel door is within reach, but I watch the skies, knowing our hovering friend might be lurking in wait for us.
“All right, Leonard,” Carter whispers. “We’re in sight of the entrance.”
