Page 27 of One Wrong Step
When I call Frankie to ask about borrowing her boots, she starts laughing.
“Rude, sister. Extremely rude.” I push my suitcases to the end of the bed so I can get comfortable.
“Let me see if I have this correct. The farm boy told you how many suitcases you could bring?—”
“He’s packing the car.” I roll my eyes, even though my bestie can’t see me.
“Let me finish.” She pauses, and when I don’t interject, she continues, “This is the important part: he told you what you could bring and how many.Andyou agreed.”
“What’s your point? I told you, he’s packing the car.”
She’s quiet for a few moments, which makes me nervous. Frankie isn’t often quiet. “Do you remember that time we were in Kansas City? And you told the sweet little guy at the airportthat you didn’t care how he found our luggage, but he needed to get it done. Pronto.”
“Pffft. That’s different.
“I can’t wait to hear this.”
“Jonah is…” But I can’t think of an explanation for why I’m giving in to him. Not one that I’m willing to admit to anyone. Even Frankie. “He’s family.” Lame.
“Family. Uh-huh. He’s your brother?—”
“Stepbrother,” I remind her, and I might have growled the word. “Can I borrow your boots or not?” I really don’t want to have to go another round with Jonah.
Frankie laughs. “Of course, boo. I got you.”
I’m relieved when my conversation with Frankie is finally over. I don’t have any answers for her. I have no idea why I’m letting Jonah get to me.
When Jonah takes over planning the trip, I complain, but it’s mostly for show. I would quickly become bored with the parts of the trip that didn’t interest me, so I had no problem letting him take over. Not that I’d let him know that.
He takes the notebook out of my hands. “This is literally part of my job.”
I scoff. “You work for an event planner. That doesn’t make you an event planner.”
“If we need anyone’s hair curled, you’re the first one I’ll call.”
Ouch. But it’s a great comeback, so I give it to him. That, and Carolynda is watching us like a hawk.
Jonah makes a chart, adding the cities and dates we’ve already discussed. Once he’s finished with that, he adds it to the family chat. I don’t like the guy—at all—but I do have a bit of acompetency kink. Damn. He catches me staring, and I focus on the proposed stops he listed in the chat.
“Why are we going to a railroad museum?
“Dad loves trains.”
That’s a good reason, but I don’t say that. “A dinosaur park? Is that for Maisy?”
Jonah huffs. “Dinos are cool.”
And that isn’t cute at all. I close the app and stick my phone in my pocket. “Fine. You can plan the rest of it. As long as we make it to Pridefest by June thirteenth.”
He stares at me. Is my eyeliner smudged? I resist the urge to check. “Why the thirteenth? Isn’t it a three-day event?”
Crap. But adding some truth might make my words believable. “Obviously, I want to be there for the talent show.”
“There’s a talent show?” He doesn’t seem suspicious, more…intrigued.
“Excuse me,” Mom says, rushing out of the room.
“What was that about?” Jonah asks, staring after her.
“I have no idea.”
Jonah looks like he wants to say more. Instead, he scrubs his hand through his hair and shakes his head. “I’ll be back.”
“Where are you going?”
His crooked smile is playful and so unexpected that my breath catches. What is happening to me? Jonah doesn’t seem to notice. “I’m cleaning the van, so a certain diva’s clothes don’t get ruined.”
