After he played, and after he checked in again with Rick, they drove an hour or so northeast, looking for the perfect turnoff. A nervous energy moved through him like a pending storm. He hoped she’d be down with this. If not, he’d find them a hotel and charge her room to his card. It was the least he could do. It was past midnight. She looked wiped. He could tell she wanted to crash.

A dirt side road through a field of overgrown crops crept up. Perfect, exactly what he’d been looking for.

Dylan slowed and turned off the highway. He drove for another several hundred yards, then stopped. He lowered the top, turned off the engine, and cut the lights.

“Dylan, what’s going on?” Joy asked nervously.

“We’re sleeping under the stars.”

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 19

BEFORE

Joy

Somewhere one hour northeast of Oklahoma City

Joy’s parents had two hard rules when it came to inviting boys over: the bedroom door remained open and no touching. In her dad’s words, “The bed is too much of a temptation if you’ve got your hands all over each other. I want grandkids, but not until you show me your degree, get a steady job, and can afford your own health insurance.”

Judy typically met their dad’s rules with an eye roll, but she obeyed them. If she’d known how often Joy and Taryn eavesdropped on her and her boyfriends, she would have broken their dad’s rules long before Todd came along, and kept her door shut.

Two days before Kent Dulcott’s graduation party, Judy had invited Todd over after her last final exam. She wanted to change into her bathing suit before they met up with friends at Layla’s swim party. Joy’s dad was at work, her mom had just left to grocery shop, and Judy was in her room with Todd, fending off his hands, giggling. Joy and Taryn crouched outside Judy’s doorway, holding in their own giggles.

Joy heard the smack of lips, a steady intake of breath, and the rustle of clothing.

“Todd, stop. Joy’s still here,” Judy said in a loud whisper.

“But your parents aren’t.”

Taryn puckered her lips and fake kissed the air. Joy snorted. She clamped a hand over her mouth. Had her sister heard her? She’d rat Joy out again if she caught Joy spying.

“She’ll tell on us,” Judy argued.

Joy gaped at Taryn. No she wouldn’t, unless Judy refused to drive her to Taryn’s cabin Saturday night. She still had to ask her sister for the ride, but with finals and senior graduation activities, Joy hadn’t seen much of Judy lately.