That was, of course, a lie. Not the Trey part, but the rest of it. I had big plans, bigger than she could imagine. But they were all mine.

“Well, that’s horribly boring,” Cal said, spinning to the music and falling back on the couch.

“What do you want, Squeaks?”

“I want a lot of things,” she answered. “And I think if we work together, we can make a pretty little life for ourselves here.”

“There is no ‘working together’ with people like you,” I said. “You don’t know what loyalty is.”

Cal gave me a smile, but it caught on something first. I could see it in her eyes.

“We can call it a temporary alliance.”

“Look, if we’re fucking with Trey, I’m in. If it’s anything bigger, thanks but no, thanks. I’m not trying to make waves.”

I couldn’t say any more without telling her why, and I could feel the beer in my veins, eager for friends. I couldn’t risk it. I went to the minifridge and picked up the six-pack.

“Goodbye, Calamity,” I said, tipping a nonexistent hat. “Thank you for the hospitality.”

“What? You’re not going to drink them with me?”

“See you at work,” I said as I walked to the door.

“Listen,” she said, and it might’ve been just the beer, but I swear she sounded disappointed. “I know you don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t. But you helped me out in a tight spot, and that’s not something I’ll forget. So if you do come up with a bigger plan for your life”—she looked at me as if every thought I’d ever had were written on my forehead, as if keeping secrets from her were the most pathetic thing she’d ever seen—“and you need my help, I’m here. No questions asked. As long as it doesn’t interfere with my plan, of course.”

“What if it does?” I asked, reaching for the doorknob.

“Well, then I’d have to kill you,” she said.

This time, I was the one to put my hands up. “Too late,” I said.

MICKEY

“GET UNDER THERE WITH her, Mick!” Silas yelled, digital camera in hand. Mickey ducked under the WELCOME TO NEW HAMPSHIRE sign and gave a lopsided smile.

“Oh, come on, you can do better than that!”

“Let’s jump on the count of three!” Ruth said, grabbing Mickey’s hand and pulling her down to a crouch. On three, Mickey jumped and flailed, limbs everywhere, with Ruth’s hand tightly in hers.

“Just like gazelles,” Silas said.