“Backup power?” he asked.
“You know, the thing where you have to back up your best friend in public even if they’re doing something you disagreewith.”
“And then later in private you tell them how stupid they were being?”
“Yes, exactly.”
He turned his hand, which was still next to mine, palm up. “I can agree to this contract.”
I placed my hand on top of his. “Good, then it’s official.”
He wrapped his fingers around mine and our eyes collided again. My cheeks prickled and I took my hand back just as my phone buzzed on my lap.
Did you tell him? How did it go??
The text was from Willow. I quickly turned my phone facedown.
“Willow?” Skyler asked. I wasn’t sure if he’d seen the text or was just guessing.
“Um, yeah.” My gaze went back to him. “Is Riley your Willow?”
His eyes lit up. “Is he your replacement, you mean? He’s a good friend, yes.”
I pushed the button on the side of my phone a couple times. “She wasn’t a replacement you.”
“What?”
“Willow. She’s my best friend but she didn’t replace you. Nobody could’ve done that.”
His eyes were intense and seemed to look right into me.
Did I really just say that?“I mean, we’ve known each other our whole lives. There’s something about a childhood friend that feels different. Maybe it’s because we knew everything about each other. Maybe it’s because when we were together we didn’t worry about image or acceptance or saying the perfectthing in the perfect way. I don’t know, it just feels different…felt different…”
He bit his lip. “Norah, I—”
The RV jerked, cutting him off mid-sentence.
“What was that!” I called out to Ezra.
“I don’t know. I didn’t do anything.”
The engine sounded weird. Like it was struggling up a hill.
“Who let the moms plan a leg from Yellowstone to Spokane without an overnight stop in the middle anyway?” Ezra said.
“If you’re tired of driving, I’m sure Mom would switch withyou!”
“Stop being such a traitor!” he yelled.
In all the noise, Paisley sat up and groaned. She walked over to the window to investigate. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I started to say when the RV jerked again, sending Skyler into my side and Paisley stumbling forward until she caught herself on the captain’s chair. This time Ezra slowed and steered onto the shoulder of the road just in time for the engine to start smoking. He turned the key, powering it off.
“Sorry,” Skyler said, and I quickly released him, realizing I had grabbed hold of his shoulders when he flew into me. “Did I hurt you?”
“No. I’m okay.” If I didn’t count the embarrassment I felt at the confessional I’d given moments before.Did I really tell him nobody could replace him?
“Is it on fire?” Paisley asked. “Do we need to evacuate?”