Page 37 of A Dead Girl's Guide to Living
Liv sighed and dramatically threw her arm over her forehead. “I do. Quite a lot, actually. I’ve got some major loose ends I need to tie up. It’s the only reason I can think of why I’m stuck here. Don’t ask me whyyou’rethe one I’m stuck to,” she grumbled, scowling. “You’re the last person I would’ve chosen. Do you know how agonizing it’s been to watch you film your little survivor videos, telling your fans to ‘stay strong,’ while you mope, groan, and map out your own death?”
My cheeks flushed. I ignored the flick of Dove’s eyes in my direction, her expression unreadable, but shame curled through me all the same.
“I left things bad with my mom,” Liv continued, her cocky coolness dimming slightly. I frowned. “Really badly, actually. I have to make it right.”
Something twisted in my stomach.
“I think it’s why I can’t move on,” Liv added, suddenly springing to her feet and glancing between us. “So, I’ve had a lot of time to think about this, and I need help getting to Los Angeles.”
A beat of silence passed.
“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, every hair on my body standing on end.
“L.A.,” she repeated slowly, like she was talking to a toddler. “That’s where my mom is. I need to go there.”
“And what?” I deadpanned, her attitude already grating. “You want us to book you a plane ticket?”
Liv snorted and inspected her nails. “Cute. No, we’re driving.”
My stomach dropped. “What?”
“We’redriving?” Dove echoed, her voice pitched slightly higher.
“Yep,” Liv said with a firm nod. “See, part of my unfinished business is that two days before I died, I was supposed to move states. I was going to drive cross-country with my best friend. Route 66. Road trip of a lifetime. It was all planned out.”
I blinked, my mouth going dry. “You want to finish your bucket-list road trip... so you can go make peace with your mother?”
“I mean, yeah,” Liv said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Two birds, Ellis. And God knows you need to get out,” she added, throwing me a look I couldn’t quite decipher, though I was sure it was meant to be insulting. “Besides, correct me if I’m wrong, but that cherry-red convertible your grandpa gave you?Perfection.”
My jaw dropped, and she threw her head back with a self-satisfied laugh.
“No,” I said quickly, cutting through her laughter. “This is insane. I—I have appointments. I have to film content this week. I’m already behind on editing and uploading and… and I’m not physically or mentally prepared to cross multiple state lines with a ghost. I’d need to map out every medical center, every… every hospital—”
Liv rolled her eyes. “You’re more likely to die from overthinking at this point.”
I shot her a glare.
“All right, let’s all just chill for a sec,” Dove said quickly, raising her hands. “Deep breaths, everyone.”
“I don’t breathe,” Liv pointed out, but made a show of inhaling all the same.
I did as I was told.
“Good,” Dove said. “Now, Ellis, I understand that this is overwhelming, believe me, I’m just as shocked as you are. I mean, maybe slightly less... given that the ghost in the room wasn’t the owner of my… anyway. Look. She’s dead. She needs to complete her destiny to cross over. A quick road trip—”
“Route 66 isn’t quick!” I snapped.
“Actually, I mapped out a highlights trip that would take ten days,” Liv said brightly. “It’s all in my Google Drive. I can give you my login details. You just need to map the locations in reverse, obviously, since we’re starting in Chicago and not Santa Monica.”
Unbelievable.
“Also,” Liv added, her voice tightening, eyes flashing, “I’m not asking. Either you help me get to my mother, or I haunt your ungrateful ass for the rest of your life.”
I blanched at the idea.
“Oh, and Dove, you need to come. This isn’t just an Ellis-and-Liv adventure. We need you. You’re clearly the link bringing us together. Bring the deck.”
Dove looked stunned, like she’d never expected to be chosen for anything cosmic. But she didn’t seem displeased by the idea. Still, her brow furrowed.
