The Road to You by Alecia Whitaker

Author:Alecia Whitaker
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Poppy
Published: 2015-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

18

I DON’T KNOW when I’m going to get used to it, but ever since being discovered I am constantly reminded that a lot can change in the blink of an eye.

“Wow,” I say, following my mom, dad, and Jacob into the gorgeous condo Anita’s real estate agent found us in Santa Monica. “This is even nicer than it looked online.”

“It ought to be, as much as it costs,” my dad grumbles. “The rent here is more than most people’s paychecks.”

“Um, is it too late to go get my stuff from the dorms?” Jacob cracks.

We roll our suitcases into the living room and set our bags down, the four of us quiet as we take it all in. The place has gorgeous beach views through floor-to-ceiling windows, which the real estate agent promised meant we’d see some breathtaking sunsets. The two bedrooms are big enough for king-sized beds and dressers, the kitchen has brand-new stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops, there are Jacuzzi tubs in both bathrooms, and the living room leads out to a balcony where I can totally envision myself having tea in the morning and songwriting. In fact, as I watch a couple walk hand in hand in the surf, I’m already feeling inspired.

“Let’s unpack and go shopping for some furniture,” I say, wanting to get settled in right away. I was jet-lagged when we pulled into the parking lot, but now that I’m officially a part-time California girl, I feel a burst of renewed energy. “We need a car and we need a couch.” I clap. “Stat.”

My dad looks at me dubiously. “We need groceries and we need toilet paper,” he says, mocking me with a loud clap of his own. “ ‘Stat.’ You may be making money, honey, but you still have to prioritize.”

I roll my eyes. “Buzzkill.”

He chuckles. “Hey now,” he says, putting his arm around my shoulders, “I’m still your manager for a few more days, so I’m going to call a few more shots. Let’s grab the rest of the bags from the rental car and figure out a plan for lunch. I’ve heard In-N-Out-Burger is a Los Angeles must.”

“Yeah, it’s awesome,” Jacob says, already the Cali pro. “I wish they took my meal plan. I’d be, like, a gold-valued customer. Adam and I were there last night.”

“Adam’s in town?” I ask, whipping my head around.

“Was,” Jacob says uncomfortably. “Headed back out on the road this morning. Told me to tell you hi, though.”

I nod, looking back out the windows. “That’s cool.”

I don’t know if Jacob knows exactly what happened between me and Adam last winter—what Adam may have told him or what he picked up on his own—but it seems like Jacob and Dylan tiptoe around any mention of him when I’m in earshot. It’s immensely frustrating.

“So we’ll grab the rest of the bags and get burgers for lunch?” Jacob asks.

“Absolutely not,” my mom says breezing past us. “Might as well eat spoonfuls of lard.”

“I think that’s the secret ingredient,” Jacob teases as he follows her out.

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