Still no smile, but there was a ghost of a twitch on her full lips. “That won’t be necessary, but thank you for your kind participation.”
She spun off the hood, sashayed into her car, and drove off without another word. I watched as she cleared security and turned out of sight.
She was a firecracker. That was for sure. It was fucking hot. Richard’s warning to stay away from her echoed in my mind. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make her even more alluring.
Chapter Six
Gabrielle
I’d been so focused on law school and the bar exam for so long, I had no idea what to do now that I had informed my dad, and one of his players, of my decision not to take the bar.
For the first time in maybe forever, my future stretched wide open and unplanned before me. It was exhilarating, and it was terrifying. I needed to talk to Heather.
She answered on the first ring. “Please tell me that you’re calling because you’ve changed your mind and are on your way to study with me.”
“Uh no, the opposite, actually. I’m freaking out because I suddenly have no plan and that is not my natural state. What exactly does one do if you’re young and free?”
Heather sighed but didn’t mention her disappointment. “I wouldn’t know, Gabbi. I’d start with not worrying about criminal procedure in Florida, as I am the moment, but you’ve always been good at the procedures anyway.” Her voice was tired, but alert.
I wondered how many more empty takeout containers littered her apartment. She’d promised on Monday that she would start remembering to care of herself again, but it didn’t sound like she was making good on that promise.
I tried to be helpful anyway. “Procedure is procedure, Heather. It follows a linear course, with some possible branches that might change the picture a little, but it all comes back together again in the same way. Don’t get intimidated by the branches. Focus on the bigger picture of how it all works together to get to the outcome.”
“You’re only making me more pissed that you’re not studying with me, you know that?” Her voice already sounded clearer, though.
“Yeah, I know. I told you that we could still do our thing. How about I come over to help you make sense of criminal procedure, and you help me make sense of life without it?” I sounded whiny, even to myself. I hated it. Also, I was kind of jealous that she was stuck in criminal procedure. I loved the procedural subjects.
I quickly pushed the thought from my mind. Heather was studying it without me because I’d chosen to follow my own path. Getting sucked in by what was familiar was precisely what I didn’t need.
“Sure thing. Sounds good, I’m sure that I could do that.” She sounded relieved. “Come on over. I’ll make the coffee.”
“Got anything stronger?” I was only half-joking. We hadn’t had much time to party over the last few years, given how serious we both had been about our studies, but I kind of felt like a buzz that wasn’t caused by caffeine.
“I’m sure I have a bottle of scotch in a cupboard somewhere. You’re welcome to it. I might add a drop to my coffee, but I can absolutely not afford to be knocked out for a day by a hangover right now.” She sounded distraught by even the possibility.
“Gotcha. I’m on my way. I’ll pick up Chinese on the way.” As far as I knew, my credit card was still active. No doubt my father would deactivate everything soon to force my hand. Which was exactly why I had to figure out where I was going so fast. I would be out on m
y ass before the end of the month, otherwise.
“Sure, if you want to. I think I still have some leftovers from last night in the fridge. So if you don’t want to stop, it’s all good.” I seriously doubted that whatever leftovers she had in mind were from the night before. I wasn’t about to chance old chicken. I had too much to figure out.
“I’ll stop. It’s not a problem. I’ll see you in about an hour?” I was already stuffing my wallet into my bag and grabbing a light sweater. Not that I would need it, but Heather’s apartment was near the beach, and I liked to be prepared.
“See you then, and drive safe,” she said as she absentmindedly ended the call.
****
“What the hell,” I muttered to myself as my car shuddered and suddenly veered toward the shoulder. I hit the brakes and pulled over, trying to calm my nerves.
I undid my seat belt and hopped out in the near dark, walking around the car. I’d gotten a tune-up a few months ago, so it couldn’t be anything too serious. At least, I hoped so. Otherwise, I would have to go crawling to my father for help with getting it fixed. I had some money saved up, but not enough for a major vehicle malfunction.
“Fuuuuck,” I groaned when I saw that one tire was almost completely flat. Sure, I could fix it myself, but I had never changed a flat in the dark on the shoulder of the road.
The roadside assist sticker on my windshield caught my eye, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, this was why I had roadside assistance. I settled in the driver’s seat and dialed the number. I answered the security questions and waited to be put through to an operator.
The automated voice told me I would be connected to the next available operator, and the knot in my stomach finally came undone.
The man on the other end of the line finally answered. “I’m sorry, Ms. Ralls. It appears that your roadside service has been suspended.”