“Your parents don’t know you’re out together, do they?”
“Yes, that’s what we’re doing. You won’t say anything, will you?” JD said, his eyes going from nervous to sweet and imploring in one of Riley’s thudding heartbeats.
“Oh, of course not. Who am I going to tell? It’s just me and Mr. Tastee Freeze in here today. You all enjoy yourselves, and if you really love each other, that’s what matters. Love conquers all, you know? That’s what they say.” She looked off. “Least that’s what I think.”
There was a ding from inside the kitchen and Rose jumped to attention. “Burgers are ready!”
JD watched Rose’s back as she walked away. “Well, she’s cheery.”
Riley offered a tight-lipped smile and leaned toward JD.
“Have you found it?”
He frowned. “That’s weird. I could have sworn it was on this site.” He turned the tablet toward her. “It’s not there anymore.”
JD slid her tablet toward the wall, and Rose set down two enormous plates overflowing with double-fried fries and burgers with patties as big as Riley’s head. The scent wafted up to Riley’s nostrils and she couldn’t remember ever being this hungry. She decimated every inch of burger and every single fry in what seemed like sixty seconds. JD pulled a fry through his puddle of ketchup and grinned.
“You eat like that around your boyfriend?”
She wiped the grease from her hands on her napkin and eyed JD. He had driven her out of town, accompanying her on this weird, unplanned hideout mission; he was skipping school; he was taking her safety into consideration.
Riley shifted her weight. “I need to tell you something.”
JD sat up straighter, his eyes going saucer-wide. “Really? Something else? What are you—an alien? A Russian spy? A sister wife?”
She wrinkled her nose but smiled. “A sister wife?”
“It would probably be less crazy than a chick running away from some killer.”
Riley shook her head. “No. It’s just that I lied when I told you I have a boyfriend. I don’t.”
JD shrugged and crumpled his napkin onto his plate. “No big deal. Could be worse, I guess.”
“How’s that?”
“You could have told me you were an alien.”
Riley crossed her arms in front of her chest. “And that would have been a serious issue?”
JD pinned her with a stare. “I have a very real fear of being probed.”
“Noted.”
They were silent for a beat. Then JD jerked his chin toward the phone in Riley’s purse. “You should call your parents.”
Riley chewed the inside of her lip, eyes glued to the phone’s dark screen. She had turned the ringer off, but her parents—and Gail—never stopped calling. There was even a text from Shelby’s mom telling Riley to call home. She let out a long breath then went to dial. The screen illuminated then flipped instantly black.
“Battery died.”
Riley felt slightly guilty—and slightly angry. She knew her parents were worrying. She knew she should just go home. And I will, in a second, she thought. But that little flame was there. They were going to pull her out of her life. They didn’t even know if the Spencers were in any real danger, but Gail and Hempstead had already made arrangements.
She would never see Shelby again. They couldn’t even text. JD would be gone too. She’d be at a new school. She’d be a new person. Tears rimmed her eyes and she wiped them on the sleeve of her sweatshirt. “Can you take me home now?”
JD nodded, and they both peeled a few bills, laying them on top of Rose’s check.
When Riley pushed open the door, she was hit with a rush of cold air that shot goose bumps all over her body—but it wasn’t the damp chill that made her teeth start to chatter. Her hackles went up.
“I feel like we’re being watched.”
JD scanned the parking lot. “There’s not even another car around here.”
Riley brushed her palms up and down her arms. “I can’t explain it. I just feel like”—she turned around and around—“I just feel like we’re not alone.”
“Well, let’s just get out of here.”
JD made a beeline for his car and Riley was right behind him. She had her hand on the door handle when she turned back to the diner, the yellow lights flooding out through the window. Rose was standing there, arms crossed in front of her chest, her head cocked as she balanced a phone on her shoulder. Her eyes seemed to be fixed on Riley, her lips moving fast. Riley swallowed, her saliva sour and metallic—she was beginning to recognize the taste of her own fear.
FIFTEEN
Riley slammed the car door shut and JD sunk his key into the ignition.
“You ready to head home?”
Riley nodded, a thick lump in her throat. “Guess so.” She paused for a beat, and then, “Can I borrow your phone?”