“I got up really early and I ironed my shirt. I was alone in the house. Mama has that job with Gary Shaw now? Well, she got up early and she’s out showing a house. I took a shower and did my makeup and then I said a little prayer... and I guess that’s not relevant, but that’s what I did. And when went back to my room to get my guitar... It’s always leaning next to my dresser in its case. Last thing I see at night, first thing I see in the morning. It was gone. I found this, though.”
She handed Eli a note.
Glory—I took your dad’s guitar to see if I could pawn it to pay for my carburetor. I should be able to get at least a couple hundred bucks for it. I’ll get it back to you, I swear, inside a month.
P.S. Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry
Eli swore so blackly and vulgarly Glory’s eyes went wide and a little real color flowed into her pale face.
“Eli, do you think it’s a sign?” she said desperately.
“A sign your dumbfuck younger brother took it and pawned it. Yeah.”
And now he realized he’d never really been angry before. What he felt now was a whole new emotion. A rage so transcendent it was almost holy. This must be how crusades began.
“I think he just panicked. I mean, we’veallfelt desperate. And technically itisDad’s guitar. It’s not like it was willed to me or anything. I don’t think John-Mark knows what it’s actually worth. Four thousand dollars, Eli.”
There was a beat of silence.
“Holyshit,” he breathed.
“It’s a classic,” she said dryly. Her voice cracked. “The one lucky break my dad got. I’m starting to think destiny doesnotwant me to leave Hellcat Canyon. Becausecomeon. What are the odds here?”
Eli swiftly counted to ten to get a grip on his temper.
“Listen. That’s bullshit. Glory, it’s time to decide whether loyalty to your family is going to keep you from soaring the way you know you can. The way everyone in Hellcat Canyon knows you can. The way you want to and know deep down youneed toor you will just die. They just don’t get it, or he would never have done this to you. This is a sign that you need to realize thatyoumatter, Glory. You and your hopes and your dreams and what you want. Fuck John-Mark. For now, anyway. You are going to the Misty Cat, guitar or no guitar.”
Her hands went up to her face. Then she brought them down and filled her lungs with a deep breath.
He was getting through.
He took a step closer to her, the words coming in a rush.
“I know you think I broke your heart, Glory, with the whole Jonah thing. Maybe that’s even true. But here’s the thing: I will be damned if anyoneelsebreaks your heart, and I don’t care whether they’re related to you or not. You are going to the Misty Cat. Now. If I have to drag you there in handcuffs. You’ve got to the count of three. One. Two. Th—”
But even as he counted, a smile grew softly, gradually, until she was clearly radiantly amused.
“Okay, I’ll come, Eli,” she said mildly. She was glowing now, with a light that he felt clean down to his soles. “You don’t have to resort to bondage.”
He was heartened by that little bit of wickedness. He pivoted and threw the front door open. “Then run,” he said.
And she did.
Eli had the engine started before she got the door of his squad car shut.
“I always knew you’d end up in a police car,” Mrs.Binkley crowed after her.
“Damn straight!” Glory shouted gleefully out the window.
And then because Mrs.Binkley would both hate and expect it, Glory levered her torso halfway out the window and hollered “YeeeeeHAAAAW!” when Eli hit the gas with a force that threw them both back in their seat.
She’d never saidyeehaw!in her entire life.
He ran two stoplights, wove around two cars, nimbly dodged three deer nonchalantly traipsing across the road, and with a screech of brakes, halted in front of the Misty Cat.
He drove the two of them so fast he wouldn’t be surprised if he’d obliterated the laws of physics and arrived at the Misty Cat five minutes before he actually left.
There was a split second of loaded silence.