“Are you sure you’re okay to drive? You look tired.”
Topher wasn’t tired, he was exhausted. How could anyone sleep after receiving a message from his childhood hero? The words What time? flashed in his mind all night like a dying lightbulb.
“I’m perfectly rested,” he lied again. “I’m just anxious to get on the road. What time is it, anyway?”
Topher glanced at all the clocks in the house, but they said different things. Shelly checked her watch.
“It’s nine fifty-five,” she said. “What time are Joey, Sam, and Mo meeting you?”
“They should be here any minute now,” Topher said. “In fact, I’m going to wait outside so we can leave as soon as they show up. Can I have the keys now?”
Shelly held the keys above her head, forcing her son to hug her before she handed them over.
“Please drive safe and come back to us in one piece.”
“I promise,” he said. “Thanks again for letting us use your car.”
Topher grabbed his suitcase and headed for the door, passing Billy on the way.
“Later, dude,” Topher said. “Stay out of trouble while I’m gone, okay? No wild parties without me.”
“Finally, I’ll get to watch something on TV besides Wiz Kids,” Billy said as clearly as he could.
“It’s all yours, little bro,” Topher said. “Just don’t overdose on Ancient Aliens. And take care of Mom while I’m gone.”
Topher gave Billy’s good hand a fist bump, then hurried out the door. He loaded his suitcase into the back of the station wagon, then paced the driveway, scanning his neighborhood street with the intensity of an FBI agent looking for a wanted fugitive.
“Get ahold of yourself, Topher,” he thought aloud. “It wasn’t really him. Some web programmer is just busting your balls—they’re probably laughing at you right now.”
Suddenly, a black SUV turned onto his street. Topher had never seen the car in his neighborhood before and his heart started to race.
“Then again, what if he’s never been on a road trip before? What if he’s always wanted to go on one and was just waiting for someone to ask him? Oh my God what if he’s in that car right now?”
The SUV got closer and closer, making Topher’s heart beat faster and faster. To both his relief and disappointment, it turned down another street before it could pass his house.
“God, I’m so gullible.” Topher laughed. “I can’t believe I was up all night wondering if—”
“Who are you talking to?” said a voice directly behind him, causing Topher to jump a foot into the air. He quickly turned around and saw Joey and Sam with their luggage in hand.
“Jesus, you guys are stealthy!” Topher said.
“Good morning to you, too.” Sam giggled. “Were you talking to yourself just now?”
“What? Of course not,” Topher said. “I was just going over our itinerary in my head. I wasn’t expecting you guys would get here so early.”
“You’re the one who insisted we get here at ten o’clock sharp,” Sam reminded him. “That may mean fifteen past ten in Mo time, but Joey and I are usually prompt.”
“I know, I just wasn’t expecting you guys to appear out of the mist like that.”
“Dude, you’ve been so skittish lately,” Joey noted. “I hope you aren’t taking Adderall again.”
“Please, I learned my lesson during finals week,” Topher said, and changed the subject. “Well, happy first day of the road trip! Can I help you with your bags?”
He took their luggage and put it in the back of the station wagon with his own. Joey and Sam shared a look as he loaded the car—something was off about him.
“Topher, are you feeling okay? You seem a little stressed,” Sam asked.
“Nah, I just didn’t sleep much last night,” Topher said.
“Were you up late watching Naughty Nurses again?” Joey asked.
“No—it wasn’t like that,” Topher said. “And I told you about that in confidence.”
“Then what was it? Did Billy have another rough night?” Sam asked.
For a second Topher considered keeping it from them out of fear of embarrassment, but he figured they’d all get a good laugh out of it.
“Last night before I went to bed, I went to Cash Carter’s website and wrote him a letter,” Topher explained.
“A letter?” Sam said—already getting amusement out of it. “What kind of letter? Did you profess your undying love?”
“No, I just thanked him for entertaining us over the years,” Topher said. “I also mentioned we were going on a road trip and invited him to come along.”
“You did what?” Joey said with a laugh. “Oh man, I hope you didn’t include our names on it. That’s next-level lame.”
“It was just a joke—anyway, getting to the point, I got a response.”
“From the website?” Sam asked. “What did it say?”