“That’s what I told you, right?” Does she doubt me? I need to make sure she never does again.
“Yes, but I don’t know. This is all so last minute.” The worry in her voice is obvious. “And I don’t know how to tell my parents.”
“Like I mentioned earlier, tell your parents you’re going on a trip with a friend. Just for a few days.”
“With what friend?”
“I don’t know—Maggie?”
A sigh leaves her. “I guess I could. Where are you taking me?”
“I want it to be a surprise.”
“That’s sweet and all, but when I call Daddy and tell him I’m leaving for the weekend, he’s going to ask where I’m going. And I can’t say it’s a surprise, because that’s just weird.”
This girl is so damn aggravating sometimes. She worries too much about what other people think of her—especially her precious daddy.
“We’re going to Vermont,” I tell her.
“Oh really? I’ve never been! I’ve heard it’s so pretty. The mountains and the snow. Some of the towns really get into Christmas too.”
“Does that mean you’re definitely coming with me?”
“I want to.” She hesitates. “Let me call my father first and tell him. I’ll see what he says. He has to sign me out anyway so…”
That’s true. I’m eighteen and can sign myself out. Well, that and I’m a Lancaster.
When your name is on the school, they let you get away with a lot of stuff with no arguments.
“Call or text me when you’ve got an answer, okay? And hurry. I already ordered the plane,” I say.
She’s quiet for a moment. “We’re actually going to fly there?”
“I didn’t want to drive.”
“Oh my God, Crew.”
“Have you never flown private before?”
“No, never.”
“You’re in for the ride of your life then.”
In more ways than one, if I have anything to say about it.