Page 31 of Silent Count
Chelsea: My plane just got here, so we’ll be boarding soon. Have a good rest of your day!
Bo: Have a safe flight. Text me later if you can.
Chelsea: Okay, I will, but won’t you be busy?
Bo: I’ll answer.
I shake my head and smile.
Chelsea: Okay, but don’t get in trouble. Walker University fans wouldn’t be happy if their star wasn’t on the field tomorrow .
Bo: Ha-ha. Talk to you later.
I drop my phone in the small pocket of my bag and make sure my earbuds are in there. My newest audiobook is already cued up for the trip, and I want to get it started as soon as we take off. Coincidentally, it’s about a quarterback falling for his tutor.
Two and a half hours later, I land in Florida. When I step outside to look for my aunt in the line, the heat blasts me immediately. It gets hot in Oklahoma, but the humidity here is an absolute killer. And I forgot to put product in my hair this morning, so I can already feel my hair frizzing. Awesome.
I pull out my phone from my bag to call her, but I see her drive up in her Land Rover before I press Call. I hold up my hand, but she already sees me and is waving at me through the window. She has a huge smile on her face. Sometimes, I thinkabout how wild it is that she and my dad are siblings. They couldn’t be more different.
When she stops in front of me, I open the door and get into the passenger seat, putting my bag between my legs on the floor.
“You know you can put that in the back, right?” She gestures toward my bag.
“I know, but it’s not that big, so I’m good.” I lean over and give her a side hug. “Where’s Torie?”
“She’s at home, getting ready for dinner.” She looks at me and rolls her eyes. “It’s just the three of us for dinner, but we might see someone she knows while we’re out, so she has to be prepared, I guess. God forbid she go out without makeup and hair.”
“Right.” Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “So, where are we eating? I’m actually starving. I’ve hardly had much today.”
“She wants to go to Del Mar tonight, then tomorrow …” She glances at me and grimaces.
“What?”
This can’t be good if she’s grimacing.
“We’re all going on airboat rides,” she says quickly.
“We’re what now? Did you say we’re going on airboat rides or just one ride?” I narrow my gaze at her.
“Technically, one ride, but two boats because of the amount of people we have in our party.” She has a worried smile on her face.
“And?” I prod.
“So, I just need you to be the adult on one of the boats.”
“Why though? Don’t they only have to be sixteen to go alone?” I pull out my phone to double-check.
“Yes, but some of the parents want to make sure the girls are properly supervised.” She shakes her head.
“Well, I mean, alligators are great for supervision. What is it they think their daughters will be doing that requires an adult?These girls will all be running around college campuses in less than a year. They do realize that, right?”
“Chels, I know it’s something your dad used to do with you, but while you have a negative association with the activity, Torie really wants to do it. She’s really excited to go. I know you hate it, but I need you. And more importantly, your sister wants you there.” She tilts her head and smiles.
“I mean, I don’t think I have a choice, do I?” I laugh.
“You always have a choice—you know that. But your sister and I would like you to be there.”
If I stayed away from everything that reminded me of my childhood, I’d never step inside this state—or about every fast-food chain in the country. And while I avoid a lot of things that bring back negative feelings, I can’t deny that the most positive thing in my life is my relationship with my sister. If having me there is important to her, then I have to do it.
