Chapter 1
Sol
What were the odds that Sol's parents, and her best friend’s parents, would both leave town for the same week?
Not together, of course. That wouldn’t be so unbelievably coincidental. And unfortunate. Not unfortunate for her best friend Lisa who was excited for her first trip without REAL adults. And not for Polly, who would spend the next few days with her face gorilla-glued to her boyfriend, Scott. But for Sol, who had been threatened with bodily harm by her older sister Polly if she didn’t go along with whatever she wanted, this impromptu vacation was going to suck hairy donkey balls.
“Where are we going?”
Sol elbowed Lisa but it was too late, Polly had heard her. No talking to her and her friends had been rule #1.
Once upon a time Sol had mistakenly believed that when Polly graduated high school, life for her would be easier. But Sorority Girl Polly was ten times worse than the Ms. Popularity Polly of high school.
“Who said you could speak, Lucy Liu?” It was Scott who had asked the question. Polly and Scott both turned in their seats to stare at the two girls crammed into the third row of the SUV. Scott wore a flirty smile. Polly's look could slay dragons.
“I –
“We really need to use the bathroom,” Sol said, interrupting Lisa. Polly might not – and that was a big might – do anything to Lisa, but Sol knew all too well that she was fair game. It wasn’t a ridiculous request either. They’d been on the road for at least four hours with no more than whispered words shared between the two youngest members of the group.
“That’s what’s up!” Chad said from the front passenger seat, his approval loud and enthusiastic. “I’ve been waiting forever to take a piss.”
“Why didn’t you just ask?” Jason tapped the screen on his console. “Five more minutes and we’ll be in Ruby Springs." He announced for the people in the back. "We can stop for bathroom breaks there. After that it’s only a short fifteen-minute drive to the house.”
Sol released a silent sigh of relief; Chad had momentarily saved them from Polly.
“I don’t look like Lucy Liu,” Lisa hissed, still ruminating over Scott’s comment. "I'm Korean. Not Chinese."
“I think she’s hot,” Naomi said over her shoulder. The blonde had gotten the only other window seat because Polly couldn’t stand to be away from her boyfriend. That she wasn't squeezed into the backseat like a linebacker in skinny jeans, was because Naomi was Polly's roommate. Apparently, Sol and Lisa were lucky to be in the car at all. Though, if anyone had asked them, they both would have preferred to stay home. Where there was no alcohol, drugs, or wild sex to be had. Though Lisa might argue that last item. Whereas Sol would not. So maybe it was just Sol who didn't want any of those things.
Scott Glanced back at Lisa. “Me too.”
Sol wanted to claw the cocky smirk from Scott’s handsome face. The look that Polly gave Lisa left no doubt in Sol’s mind that her best friend had just been unceremoniously shoved out of the safe zone.
Scott loved women. He also liked to make Polly jealous. They were the absolute perfect recipe for disaster. And Sol was dreading the day that their relationship would be thoroughly cooked.
“Holy shit.” Lisa let out a low whistle. “Are you seeing this?”
Out of the small window in the back, Sol could see colorful buildings, meticulous landscaping, and pristine streets.
“It’s fucking, Main Street U.S.A. around this bitch,” Chad said, his voice awestruck. He turned to Jason, eyes wide. “Why have we never been here before?!”
Flicking on the blinker, Jason shrugged. “The house we’re going to belongs to an aunt of mine through marriage. I’ve never been there. Hell, I don’t even think Aunt Carol has been to the house before. But she has a caretaker on the property. I called ahead to let her know we were coming.”
“So, you told your aunt that were staying at her house this weekend?” Polly asked, the disapproval evident in her tone.
“Not exactly,” Jason hedged. “My aunt said that I could use the place whenever I like. I doubt she thinks I took her up on her offer this quickly.”
“And when did she say this?” Scott asked.
“Uh.” Jason glanced at the rearview mirror to see five faces staring back at him. “The day before yesterday?”
Lisa leaned closer to Sol, asking quietly, “Am I the only one who thinks this shit’s crazy? Who stays at some rando house in the middle of nowhere?”
“No,” Sol agreed. “You’re not the only one.” And she didn’t think it was smart not to let anyone else know where they were going either. Yes, they were all technically adults, but you were never too grown to be cautious.
“Who are you texting?” Lisa tried to get a look at the screen on Sol’s phone.
Sol turned her shoulder to block Lisa's view. “Nunya.”
Lisa huffed, folding her arms across her chest. “Brat.”
Sol smiled and put her phone back in her purse.
Jason turned the vehicle into a gas station, parking in front of the closest available pump. “All right people, we’re here.”
Chad hit the ground running. His mop of dark curls was already disappearing behind the convenience store doors as the rest of the gang started to pile out of the SUV. Scott was the first to get out of the backseat, turning back to help Polly who suddenly became clumsy, falling into his embrace. She landed so that her pert tits fell right into her boyfriend’s waiting hands.
“Get a room,” Naomi grumbled, rolling her eyes.
Scott grinned at Naomi over Polly’s head. “Are you also in need of assistance?” Polly shoved him hard in the chest. “What?” he asked with feigned innocence. “I’m just being gentlemanly.”
"Nope." Naomi opened the other door. “I’m good.” She pulled the lever on the side of her seat, extending a helping hand to Sol.
“Thanks.” Shielding her face from the sun, it took a moment for Sol’s eyes to adjust from the dim interior of the vehicle as she stepped outside.
Sol made a slow circle, soaking it all in. She’d never seen anything like it. The town had the quality of which she’d only experienced at an amusement park. Where the employees wore cheerful outfits with matching smiles. And you didn’t notice that they never seemed to stop sweeping because it was all a part of the ambiance. But there were no men dressed up like members of a barbershop quartet. They weren't sweeping the streets and cleaning the windows of the quaint shops that peppered the town’s square.
“Where is everyone?” Sol looked around to find that she was the only person still outside. The others had made their way into the store, leaving her behind.
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
Sol spun around, her heart racing. Where the fuck had this man come from?
“I didn’t mean to startle you.” The elderly gentleman slowly moved closer. He was smiling and Sol thought she detected a kindness in his eyes. “I own the frozen yogurt place.” He pointed a veined hand to the cute, pastel-colored shop across the street. “You kids just passing through?”
“Staying a few days.”
“Oh yeah?” The old man ran a hand over his sparse, salt and pepper hair. “Whereabouts?”
“Not sure.” Sol wasn’t sure she should be telling this man, old or not, where they were staying. “It’s my sister’s, friend’s, Aunt’s –
Chuckling, the man held up a hand to stop her. “I get it.” Shoving his hands into the pockets of his slacks, he rocked back and forth on his heels. “Well, there’s not much to see around here. But if you find yourself with some free time you should visit The Moira House.”
“Is it some kind of museum?”
“Of a sort,” he agreed. “What is it the young ladies used to say?” He looked up as if contemplating and smiled when the words came to him. His voice became high-pitched as he said, “It’s totally to die for.”
