“It doesn’t make sense. They were so in love!”
“Just keep reading.”
“Wait…” Finn’s gears began to turn. “It wasn’t another woman, was it? It was planted there by Admiral Winsome!”
Eleanor, the noblewoman who had stolen Captain Neptune’s heart, had been promised to Admiral Winsome by her father. As was customary at the time the story was set, Eleanor had had no say in the match. When Winsome discovered she was having a love affair with Captain Neptune, a lowly fisherman, he had used every trick in the book of villainy to keep them apart.
“Maybe. Maybe not,” Zadie teased.
“Argh!” Finn tossed the book back onto her deck chair. “Guys suck.”
One of Zadie’s eyebrows peeked out from over her sunglasses. “You sound like you’re speaking from personal experience. Did you also find a stocking in your boyfriend’s lobster trap?”
“Ha. No. That would require having a boyfriend to begin with.” Finn found herself thinking about Jonathan and his green—or sometimes brown—eyes. “The guy I’m into… it’s not gonna happen.”
“Why not?”
“I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m weird.”
“Does he know about your—?”
“God, no. He thinks I’m weird for totally normal reasons. But I have his old locker, so let’s just say I know him better than he knows me.”
“Yikes.”
“Right?” Finn groaned. “Every time I’m around him I have to make sure I don’t say something too personal, like ‘Hey, how’s your dog’s diabetes?’”
“That sucks.”
“Yup. Kathy says he’s just intimidated by me. That’s why he hasn’t asked me out.”
“Mom told me the same thing once. Mike Hayworth. I had to remind her thatIwas the one who askedhimout, and he still said no.”
“I wonder what Mom would say about Jonathan.”
“Probably that you’re too good for him. And then she’d stick a picture of his face up on the dartboard.”
Finn laughed. “You’re right. That’s totally what she’d do.” Just then it struck her that this was probably the first time Zadie had voluntarily brought up the subject of their mother since they’d left Texas. Not only that, but she seemed almosthappyto be talking about her. Not wanting to jinx it, Finn left her sister to her thoughts.
“I’m going to do laps,” she announced, then pushed off the side of the pool.
Half an hour later, Finn climbed onto the pool deck and observedthe long rectangular shadow splayed across the concrete. “I’m hungry. Are you hungry?” Zadie nodded as Finn leaned her head over the pool and squeezed the rest of the water out of her dark curls.
There were only a few restaurants near their motel, most of them fast-food chains. Hungrier than they were picky, they decided on a place called Dry County Bar and Grill.It was in a squat brick building with a flashing neon sign in its window that read:GOOD FOOD, BETTER SERVICE.
Inside, a waitress carrying two giant foaming pitchers of beer told them to seat themselves. Pulling up, Zadie had wondered if the name Dry County was ironic or not. Based on the size of the pitchers, it clearly was. The room was dim, illuminated only by the neon signs above the bar and strings of lights threaded through drop panels in the ceiling. One whole wall was covered in old license plates, a reminder that this was a place for travelers, just another stop on a long journey.
Finn plopped herself down at the closest table and picked up a menu. “I hope they have chicken fingers. And honey mustard.”
Zadie smiled to herself. When Finn was little, they always used to split an order, although Zadie usually opted for ketchup over mustard. “I might get the same,” she said. “And a salad, so I can say I ate something healthy today.” So far that day, all she’d eaten was a string cheese that she’d bought at a gas station. She had been too nauseated that morning to eat anything and was in serious caffeine withdrawal. The Star formerly known as Ladybug must have appreciated the gesture, because it hadn’t made her throw up even once that day.
The girls ordered their chicken fingers and a basket of fries to share. As they waited for their food, Zadie watched a small crew of people prepping the stage at the far end of the bar. “There must be a band playing tonight,” she said.
Finn looked over her shoulder at the stage. “That’s not a band,”she said, glee glazing her voice. She turned back around, eyes twinkling. “That’s a karaoke machine.”
“Nope.”
“It’s fate.”