“You need to give Sam points for truthfulness, though,” Ty said.
Jules couldn’t stop a snort from escaping. “Don’t make me laugh, y’all, or I’m going to go full-on hysterical and won’t be able to drive.” A glance in the mirror showed the highway patrol vehicle still trailing them. “Should I take the next rest stop exit?”
“What if he follows?” Ty asked. “We’ll have to stop at the rest area, or it’ll look like we’re just trying to dodge him.”
“You’re right.” Her hands had tightened again, and she peeled her fingers off the wheel before settling them loosely back in place. “Let’s keep going then.”
As the Pathfinder and its escort continued down the interstate, they all went silent. Her gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, and she froze. The trooper was right behind them. Trying to keep her breathing steady—or at least not start praying out loud—Jules had to force herself to not stare at the rearview mirror. As close as he was, he’d be able to see her jerky glances, each nervous movement just screaming, “I’m guilty!” Every time her eyes disobeyed and strayed to the mirror, she caught a glimpse of her siblings’ pale, frightened faces. Her breathing grew jerky despite her efforts at staying calm as she waited for the cop’s overhead lights to flash, for the siren that would force her to choose—pull over or run.
As terrifying as the thought of trying to outrun the police was, the alternative was scarier. She’d go to prison, and her sister and brothers would return to that house. That wasn’t an option. If the trooper’s lights went on, they were running. Every muscle in her body contracted, tighter and tighter with each dragging second until she was quivering with tension.
When she saw the sign, the ramifications didn’t penetrate for a few seconds. As soon as she grasped what it meant, she laughed, and the sudden sound made Sam jump.
“Wh-what?” he growled.
“Welcome to Tennessee, Jackson family!” Behind them, the patrol car had switched lanes and slowed, preparing to turn onto an access road across the median. Comprehension brought a dawning smile to Sam’s face.
“I get it!” Ty almost yelled. “State patrol!”
Everyone laughed, more at the release of tension than because he’d said anything particularly funny. When Jules finally got her breath back, she had to brush at her watering eyes.
“Am I going to feel like that every time I see a cop?” she asked. “If so, I vote we go somewhere without a police force.”
“Where’s that?” Ty asked. “Canada?”
Reaching over Dez’s head, Tio punched his brother in the arm. “They have cops there, dumbass. Haven’t you heard of Mounties?”
“Language!”
“We can’t say ‘dumbass?’” It was Ty who protested. “I won’t have a name for most of the people I know.”
“You w-won’t know them anym-m-more.”
Everyone went silent at the reminder. Jules fought the urge to apologize for stealing them away from their friends, reminding herself that they’d agreed it was for the best.
“Worth it,” Ty said, echoing her thoughts.
“Totally,” Dez agreed. “Now I don’t have to pretend to be friends with Taylor Biggins.”
“That obnoxious girl from the pageants?” Jules asked, vaguely remembering Dez mentioning Taylor’s explosive tantrums.
“Yes.”
“Why would you have to pretend to be friends with her?” Jules noticed her arms were shaking, probably from keeping her muscles tense the entire time the cop had stayed behind them. “From what you’ve told me, I would’ve run whenever I saw her.”
“Mrs. Biggins does the best hair.” Dez’s voice was matter-of-fact. “Courtney said I had to be friends with Taylor or her mom would drop me, and then I’d get stuck with Mrs. Papadopoulos, and she burns me with the curling iron when I don’t sit still.”
Everyone besides Dez sucked in a horrified breath.
“Does Courtney know that this woman burns you?” Ty asked. Each word was carefully precise, making him sound like Tio. When Jules glanced at him, Ty’s face was tight, and he was staring at Dez with intense focus.
“Sure.” Dez’s casual tone made the answer so much worse.
“What did she say about it?” Jules asked, even though she was pretty sure she didn’t want to know the answer.
“Sit still.”
When her fingers started cramping, Jules realized that she was strangling the steering wheel again. “I’m sorry y’all had to leave your friends—except for Demon Taylor—but I’m not sorry I kidnapped you.”
“Me neither.” Dez was the first to agree.
Ty was next. “Nope. Kidnap away.”
“It’s not the ideal situation”—Tio never used one word when he could use a dozen—“but it was necessary under the circumstances.”
“Thanks, J-J-Juju.”