“Lenni, grab the wheel,” Misty ordered, her gaze bouncing between the windshield and her cellphone. “I need both thumbs.” She brought the phone closer to her face, squinting at the screen. “Rayna’s freaking out on me.”
I lunged for the wheel, jerking the small sports car toward the shoulder of the road.
“I’m doing eighty. Are you crazy?” Misty’s cell slipped from her fingers as she seized the wheel and overcorrected, swerving the car over the sleet-peppered road. She straightened the tires and glared at me. “Unbelievable,” she huffed, flicking her eyes off the road as she snatched her phone from the floorboard. She centered it on the steering wheel and tapped feverishly, steering with her forearms, no doubt informing Rayna of how my stupidity nearly killed her.
The swish of the windshield wipers synched with the stereo’s thumping bass. I willed my heartbeat to slow and match their rhythm. “You told me to take the wheel,” I said, my voice weak.
Misty turned her head toward me, black eyes glistening in the dark interior, face lit by the eerie glow of her phone’s screen. “I don’t recall asking you to kill us in the process.” She lifted the vibrating phone from the wheel and read the text while steering with her knees.
I stared through the sleet-smeared windshield, wishing I could’ve turned down Misty’s halfhearted invitation to go shopping. I’d had no choice. Ms. Velma put Misty and me in charge of picking out decorations for the Winter Wonderland ball, and time was running out. The trip had seemed harmless—a quick drive to the city to buy balloons and streamers, followed by Japanese food for dinner. I double-checked the latch on my seatbelt, sushi swimming recklessly through my stomach.
“Rayna, just get over it.” Misty shook her head at the phone then turned to smile at me. “She’s having a cow because her stepmom lost her purse at the casino and can’t buy her a dress for the dance.” She chuckled, navigating a sharp curve with her knees.
I swallowed dryly and turned the blasting heater vent from my face.
“Hey, sorry I yelled at you, but you scared the crap out of me back there.” She turned her eyes from the windshield, locking them onto mine.
I shot my gaze to the road, heart jamming against my ribs like an exploded airbag. “Look out!”
