Page 9 of Push & Pull
“I dunno you well enough to make that call.” Petra brought up Hailey’s number on her phone before plugging it into the speakers. “I can call Hailey for you and ask if she’s seen it, though. Ooh, while we’re at it, let’s confirm that she and I know each other.”
“Whatever.” Simone could hardly hold her head up after expending so much energy. “Call her.”
It took three rings for Hailey to pick up the phone. When she did, she made sure Petra knew, “I’m only answering because it’s your name on here, Petra. What is it? Something wrong with Simone?”
Petra gave Simone such an“I told you so,”look that it almost tipped over the car. “Hey, sweet stuff. Good news. Simone is conscious and ready to kick my ass because she doesn’t remember me. Go on. Say hi, Simone.”
“What the hell is going on?” Simone probably didn’t have to raise her voice that much, but it beat trying to talk over the crinkling of a MickMuffin wrapper. “Hailey, if that’s really you, I need to know what thefuckis going on. I woke up in this stranger’s car!”
“Thank God you’re all right,” Hailey said with one of her labored sighs. For some reason, Simone was not reassured. “Look, I know it’s kinda wild, but it was the best Petra and I could come up with at the last minute. I didn’t want you getting into trouble in case the cops showed up. Francis Marseille was out for my blood when she crashed the party at six this morning. After she got her daughters out of my place, I… I know that you can’t afford to get caught in a situation like this again.”
Petra’s brows raised in curiosity, but she kept her questions to herself. It helped that her mouth was still full.
“I was supposed to catch a flight at ten this morning! To Washington!”
“Washington? As in DC?”
“Yes, Hal, I’m pretty sure we were talking about it at lunch yesterday.”
“What are you doing in DC? Did you move there?”
“It doesn’t matter. Hal, where is my phone? Have you seen it? I don’t have it.”
“She’s got her wallet and her bag but not her phone,” Petra reiterated.
Hailey was too quiet for Simone’s comfort – but when she was about to yell for her friend to get back on the line, Hailey said, “It’s got the dark purple case, right?”
“Yes! Did you put it in one of my bags?”
“It’s… right here. I found it in the guest room.”
Simone groaned.Great. I don’t have my phone.“We’ll come back and get it.”
“Like hell, we will,” Petra sputtered. “We’re already three hours away. It’s six more to Atlanta.” She wadded up the wrapper and tossed it into the Mickey’s bag between her and Simone. “Mail her the phone, Hailey.”
“Mail!” That was the loudest sound Simone had produced in… not only that morning but that whole week! “Are you kidding me? I need my phone. How am I supposed to call for help if you start slaughtering me?”
“Honey, I’d kill you way too fast for you to call for help.”
Hailey interrupted them with her whiney voice. “Where are you supposed to be staying in DC, Simone? I can overnight it to the hotel.”
“Unless we hightail it to Washington right now, I don’t think I’ll make it in time for my reservation.” She struggled to remember the name right now. “Can I have Petra text you when we figure this out? I have my wallet, so maybe I can get dropped off at the Atlanta airport and fly up.”
“All right. I’m really sorry about this, Simone. You’re in good hands with Petra, though. She’ll take good care of you. Better than anything I can offer.”
“You could’ve let me keep sleeping it all off.”
“We’ll talk about this later. Let me know if there’s anything else you don’t have.” Hailey dropped the call. Simone was on the verge of screaming.
Petra sniffed as she disconnected her phone from the cords and settled back into the driver’s seat. “It’s all good, girl. We’ll be in Atlanta by tonight. I know the route between Miami and there well enough to get us to a hotel on time. It’s a nice one, too! Should suit your sensibilities.”
“I can’t see any reason to be in Atlanta other than to get a plane ticket to DC.”
“I thought you said you lived in New England?”
“Yes, and I have business in the capitol.”
Petra contemplated that response by wiping crumbs off her mouth. “Fair enough.”
