Page 65 of It Runs in the Family

“So send him a text.”

I glanced at the mess stacked on the kitchen counter. “But the dishes.”

Mary Ellen crossed her arms over her chest and shifted her weight. “You know when Billy finds out that his mother thinks you’re trying to steal his inheritance, he’s really gonna come lookin’ for you.”

Well, shit.

“What are we waitin’ for?” I asked, moving past Ava. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Eighteen

We made it out the front door undetected, but we could hear Aunt Marcie shouting, “She said what?” all the way at the front of the house.

“Good call,” I said as I scrambled into the backseat of their getaway car.

“We may look stupid, but we’re actually pretty smart,” Mary Ellen said, getting into the driver’s seat.

My heart jolted. “If you’re so smart, then why are you drivin’? I thought you couldn’t drive.”

“Old habits die hard,” Mary Ellen said, clicking her seat belt. “And we don’t have time to switch.” She turned the key in the ignition, and when the engine roared to life, she promptly threw the car in reverse and backed up. She shifted into drive and pressed the gas pedal so hard, gravel and dust went flying behind us, followed by the ping of rocks hitting metal.

“If you dented Garrett’s Bronco, he’s gonna be furious,” I said.

Ava glanced behind us and blanched. “I’m more worried about Billy’s Camaro.”

“Oh, shit,” Mary Ellen muttered under her breath has she drove down the gravel drive to the main road.

Through the dust, I could see half of the family running to the front of the house to see what was going on.

“I thought you wanted to sneak away,” I said, grabbing the front seat with both hands.

“So, I got a little excited,” Mary Ellen said with a grin, barely slowing down as she turned onto the main road. “Sue me.”

Ava laughed. “Iris won’t, but Garrett might for the damages to his truck.”

“And Billy will just beat the shit out of you,” I said as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. How was I going to explain this to Garrett? I considered calling him but decided to take Ava’s advice and send him a text.

Hey, just wanted to let you know I left with Ava and Mary Ellen

He responded within seconds.

Was Billy harassing you? I don’t see him anywhere, and I was worried he had you cornered somewhere

More like his mom had me cornered, but Ava called Aunt Millie a dimwit, who then ran out to tattle to Aunt Marcie

Shit, no wonder they took off like a bat out of hell. But why are YOU with them?

Long story…which I plan to tell you about later

Are you having them take you back to my house? Don’t even think about going home alone

I glanced up at Ava. “Thanks for the offer to bring me out, but I’m exhausted. Garrett says you can drop me off at his house.”

“Why not your apartment?” Mary Ellen asked, glancing over her shoulder at me for longer than was comfortable.

“Did you get kicked out?” Ava asked. “You can move in with us.”

“And get a job at Simco,” Mary Ellen said. “We can all work together. It’ll be fun.”