Free Drive Me Crazy by Erin Downing

like waterskiing. I’m no good at it, but it’s still fun.”
    “Why didn’t you go at all that summer?”
    “Because…” Adam turned toward her. “Because then you would have been stuck all alone or gotten roped into riding around in the boat watching everyone else ski. Chilling out with just you was always a lot more fun anyway. You’ve always cracked me up, princess, and I liked hanging out with you…. Still do.”
    Just then Alexis and Sierra both came barreling out the front door. Alexis was wild-eyed, and Sierra was laughing hysterically. “Let’s go!” Alexis called, running down the front steps. “We have to get away from Sierra’s lover.”
    As they all took off down the sidewalk toward their car, they could hear a guy yelling, “Caitlin, don’t go! Caitlin!”
    “What did you do?” Kate asked, breathing heavily as they ran down the sidewalk.
    “I didn’t do anything!” Sierra declared. “Lex?”
    Alexis laughed harder. When they were finally in the safety of their car, back on the road to the hotel, Alexis said, “I told the drunk guy that Sierra, or rather, Caitlin, was easily wooed by poetry. So the dumb guy stripped down to his underwear and started reading random Shakespearean sonnets to her from the landing between the first and second floors. It was freaking hilarious!”
    “Poor guy.” Sierra laughed. “I feel bad for him.”
    “He was drunk, Sierra! He’ll have no recollection that he did that, until someone reminds him tomorrow. Maybe he’ll realize he shouldn’t act like such a fool next time.”
    “At least he’ll never see us again,” Kate offered. “Even though I’m sure he’d love to see you, Caitlin.” They pulled into the parking lot of their hotel. As they walked into the lobby, Kate’s phone rang. “Hey,” she murmured into the phone, waiting for a response on the other end. “I’m excited to see you, too.” She smiled to herself, but was fully aware that her friends were watching her. “Okay, g’ night.” When she hung up, the other three were waiting for her next to the front desk.
    “Lover boy?” Alexis asked, raising an eyebrow.
    “Yes,” Kate said. “I can’t believe I’ll see him in less than a day! I just keep visualizing that moment when we’ll pull up at the resort and Lucas will come greet me with a kiss. Mmmm,” Kate murmured, closing her eyes to picture the scene. When she opened them again, Adam was watching her closely. “What?” she asked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    He didn’t say anything, just shook his head.
    “What?” she demanded. “Are you trying to find a way to kill my fantasy, just like your cousin?” Kate looked at him angrily, anticipating the rude comment he was sure to make. “Because you won’t, and your criticism will just piss me off.”
    “No,” Adam said simply. “I’m happy for you, Kate. I hope it all unfolds exactly as it should.”
    Kate stared at him and realized he was being genuine. “Thank you. That’s a nice thing to say.” They all headed off toward the elevator to go to their shared room, but as they passed the breakfast area off the lobby, someone singsonged, “Hello, girls!”
    Inside the dining room were a bunch of white-haired women, smiling and waving. “Oh, hi!” Kate said, stepping into the room. “You were at the amusement park yesterday, right? What are you doing here?”
    “This is the next stop on our tour,” one of the women said. “Lovely Ann Arbor. We move on to Chicago tomorrow. Then we’ll be making our way up into Wisconsin and the shores of the Great Lakes!”
    Another woman shouted out, “If I have anything to say about it, we’re staying in Chicago until this money in my pocket is gone! I have some shopping to do.” All the other ladies laughed, despite the fact that her comment wasn’t funny. Inside joke, apparently.
    “Okay…” Alexis was obviously eager to get out of there. “Well, have a good trip. Really nice to see you