Page 37 of The Fire Walker
Dee
The one thingI didn’t want to do was say goodbye toZoe.
In the whole time I’d known her, we’d probably spent one or two days apart at a time. I was twenty-five years old. I had to grow up a little. I was capable of looking after myself…wasn’tI?
I stood on the footpath across the street from the hotel helping Will load their rental car with their luggage. They didn’t really have much, a suitcase each and Zoe’s guitar because like me, she couldn’t go anywhere withoutit.
“Thanks, Dee,” Will said, closing the boot. He grinned when he saw Zoe sidle up to me, and without another word, he got into the car to give us a minute. It took him a while to get the thing we had, but I would never ever come betweenthem.
I reached up and tucked Zoe’s wild hair behind her ear. “Gonna miss you, hotlegs.”
“Have you decided what you’re gonna do?” she asked, bouncing on the balls of herfeet.
I’d thought about it the night before. They were going on their own road trip, so maybe I should do my own version. The kind where I just started driving with no destination in mind. You know, see where the asphalt took me. “I’m going for a long drive into thesunset.”
“A road trip?” sheexclaimed.
“Whynot?”
“On your own? Is that a good idea? Aren’t there billions of crazy people out in backwaterAmerica?”
“I’ll be fine, Zo. I’m not going to let anyone do aDeliveranceon me. I seriously doubt I’ll be going anywhere off a mainhighway.”
She bit her lip, a frown creasing her forehead. “I worry about you, youknow.”
“I know youdo.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us for a fewdays?”
“I’m sure, Zo. This is your time with Will. Hell, you’ve been looking forward to this for ages. I’m not gonna rain on yourparade.”
“I don’t mind you beingthere.”
“Zo, it’ll be okay. I’ll be okay. I just need a little time on my own. That’sall.”
She smiledthinly.
“I have to get out of LA first.” I groaned, thinking about the crazytraffic.
“You know, I’m kinda terrified about driving on the opposite side of the road. I’m making Willdrive.”
“And the opposite side of the car,” Iadded.
“Weird,right?”
“It’sdifferent.”
“You’ll be okay,though?”
“I’ll call you every few days so you know I’m not dead in a ditchsomewhere.”
She slapped me on the arm, making my skin smart. “Promise?”
“Cross myheart.”
“Hope todie.”
“Pins and needs in myeye.”
