Better Off Dead

Chapter Fifteen: He Just Really, Really Likes Fish

Taylor insisted on touring what had once been my dad's lab, which had been donated to a marine wildlife conservationist group after the incident. She gave a reason about how it might jog some memories for me since no major renovations had been done to it, but we all knew the truth. She just wanted to check out the remnants of the old marine science division of her dream employer. There was no hiding that she was a total fangirl. She should have just led with that and saved us all the hassle, but I supposed it could be useful.

Liam and I got in his truck and headed out to meet Taylor at the fated donut shop. We had known this day would come.

The giant truck parked right out front and we waited until she came out. It should be noted that the car was not invisible. No matter what Liam thought. She walked out the door and immediately saw us.

"She's not going to do it." Liam said.

"She's going to do it." I said.

She tried to do it. Taylor was sipping coffee and holding a box of donuts when she reached for the car door. Liam shook his head at her as a reminder that he would not budge on the no food or drink inside the hotrod rule. She paused, then continued to reach for the handle. Liam locked the car.

Taylor tried the handle but the door wouldn't open. She put the hand that wasn't holding coffee on her hip and stared with unmasked irritation. She knocked on the window but made no further progress.

Liam got out his phone and called someone, even though we were in the middle of an adventure, but we would probably be sitting there for a few minutes. Then Taylor picked up her phone. What.

"You know the rules, missy. No food or beverages allowed inside the ride at any time." Liam said.

I couldn't hear what she said, but the hand gestures I could see made further explanation unnecessary.

"Yes. Yes it is. We will wait right here until you put that away." And we did. Taylor took extra time watching the lovely scenery of the parking lot just to emphasize her exasperation. She pointed to the box of donuts when he still wouldn't let her in the car.

I wondered what kind of donuts were inside. Probably a whole bunch of different ones, since that's how donut boxes work, right? You get a whole bunch of random donuts and hope they're the things you like.

You better believe I was stealing those donuts later. She could share. It's not like you can eat a whole box of donuts by yourself. I know, I tried once.

He got out and opened up the back of the truck. Apparently donuts were only allowed in the truck bed. From the driver's mirror I watched a silent-film argument with exaggerated arm movements and shrugs and everything. I wondered if that was what people were really like or if I was just surrounded by weirdos. I wouldn't know.

The donut situation settled, they both got in the car. As soon as she'd buckled in and the doors closed she pulled a donut out of her purse. She didn't eat it, she just held it up to be annoying.

Liam leaned an arm over the seat and turned towards her, pointing out the window. "I will throw you out of this car."

Taylor rolled her eyes and put the donut bag back in her purse, which was the perfect size to conceal, say, two donut bags. Just saying.

She looked at me and frowned, squishing herself against the door as much as possible. There was just one bench seat in the car, and I was sitting in the middle. Great. Us girls were equally thrilled with the arrangement. I would have been helpful and squished myself in the opposite direction, but that was just running into Liam. Why didn't I get the edge seat?