Lauren said as soon as the line was dead. “We’re going.” “I know we are.” “Then why’d you tell her you weren’t sure?” The sun was high in the sky behind us, a bright orb in my rearview mirror, and the desert sand and rock had changed over from pink to red. “Because she might crack and tell Elizabeth she talked to us,” I said. “If Elizabeth is really freaked about us, the last thing we want is her running further away. This way if she does crack, Morgan will tell her that she doesn’t think we’re coming. It’ll take the edge off for Elizabeth.” “But we are going?” Lauren pressed. “Right?” “I’m headed west, aren’t I?” “Please don’t mess with me.” I re-gripped the wheel. “Yes. We’re going to California.” “Even though she apparently doesn’t want to see us?”
