Playing The Risk - Book One in The WSU Series

- Chapter Sixteen -

"Okay, so I hear me out." We are currently sitting in my moms' cafe when Liv announces that she has an idea. "What is it this time?" We sat in a booth with Liv and me sitting on one side and Lizzie and Em across from us, the booth is large enough for there to be gaps for others if there were more.

"Okay since we're on spring break I was thinking of going on a little vacay." Emilia takes a sip of her coffee while Lizzie looks like she's trying to comprehend what Liv just said. "So, I asked my parents and they agreed to let us use their summer house."

"And where pray tell is this summer house located." Em hates traveling if you can't tell. "Santa Barbara!" California. "That's like an eighteen-hour drive." Emilia lets out a groan to symbolize how unhappy she is with this decision, "nope, it's nineteen hours and eight minutes," Liv corrects Em with a smile. "Liv, that's great and all, but we'll have to stop on the way there cause there's no way we'll make this drive all at once."

"Thank you for that captain obvious." Em chugs the last of her coffee, "I'm getting another drink." Liv carries on explaining, "that's why we'll stop in Medford, Oregon because that's a nine-hour car ride." Lizzie pops up, "so we'll spend the night in Medford then?" Liv nods, "yeah, and then from there it'll take us ten hours to get to Santa Barbara."

"Can't we just fly?" I suggest and Liv pretends to make a pondering look, "you know what we'll take my dad's private jet." Lizzie states from across the table, thank the lords. "If I agree to fly you will all come?" Lizzie nods, "we'll all come including Em." I look over to the counter where Em is talking to my mom, "I'll be back in a second." I get up out of the booth and make my way across the cafe, "hi, sweetie, how are you?" Em smiles at me before heading back to the table, "mom I spoke to you ten minutes ago." She laughs it off, "so what are y'all talking about?" I look back over to the booth before turning back, and ripping the bandage off, "I know I'm supposed to be working this week but Liv has asked if we'd like to spend the break at her parent's summer house." She nods taking in the conversation, "where's the summer house?"

"Santa Barbara," I whisper as quietly as I could, "okay," my mom responds, I'm shocked, "okay?" I question with uncertainty. She nods while continuing rearranging the glasses, "as long as you're safe." Who is this woman and what's she done with my mom? I go to put up a fight but the bell rings on the cafe door indicating new customers. I don't turn to look but still, I continue to look at the woman in front of me in shock, "what the hell do you want?"

"I know you missed me Johnson, don't deny it." Oh shit, I know that voice, before I could turn around an arm is swung around my shoulder. Fucking great. "Hey, Ele." It's been a week since I last spoke to Roma properly, we've met up twice after that to do our history assignments and we've agreed to be 'friends' I use the term friends very loosely. I still haven't said anything until my mom clears her throat, "oh, my bad, I'm Roma." He extends his hand to shake my mom's, and she gladly accepts. Kill me now. "Yo Gomez." Hayden walks up to my side before snaking an arm around my waist. Fucking kill me.