The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Guide #1)(77)

“Mo, we’re on the first floor,” Joey said.

“I’m using it figuratively!” Mo said. “Look, I know we were all going to use Wiz Kids to stay in touch, but let’s be real—the show’s sucked since season three! It might be the reason we became friends, but it’s not the reason we stayed friends. We were just using it as an excuse to spend time together and I’m not going to let our friendship end just because the show is! You guys are more than just friends to me—you’re my real family! Who cares if we’ll be separated for college—I want to spend the rest of my life with you guys! I want us to be together for vacations, and holidays, and Zac Efron’s birthday just like a real family!”

“Aw, thanks, Mo,” Topher said.

“Yeah, that’s really sweet,” Joey said.

“We feel the same way about you,” Sam said.

“Good—because my dad and my cat are assholes!” Mo said. “So we need to promise each other that no matter what, after graduation we’re all going to move to the same city and keep this going! Topher won’t have to take care of his brother anymore, Joey will be able to live openly away from his parents, Sam will probably have transitioned by then, and I’ll be the only girl when we go out and will get all the attention—everybody wins! But it starts right here, right now! We need to make up and be friends again because I never want to live for another day without you guys in my life!”

Mo stopped to breathe for the first time since they arrived. None of her friends seemed overburdened by her requests. They shared a look and shrugged like it was perfectly reasonable.

“Sounds good to me,” Topher said.

“Me too,” Joey said.

“Can’t wait,” Sam said.

Mo was thrilled they were on board but their willingness was very confusing. It was so much easier than she had predicted.

“Did something happen that I’m not aware of?” she asked. “Did you guys already make up without me? Because an hour ago none of us were even speaking and you just agreed to stay friends forever.”

“Yup,” Topher said. “Just now on the pier, actually.”

“We happened to be in the same place at the same time,” Joey said.

“Yeah, we didn’t exclude you or anything,” Sam said.

Mo nodded approvingly and wiped away her tears. She had prepared an additional half-hour-long speech about why they needed to save their friendship, but she clearly didn’t even need it.

“Well… great,” she said. “I wish someone had mentioned that when I threatened to jump out a window, but I’m glad we’re all back together again! Now come help me off this ledge and give me a hug!”

Her friends happily obeyed. Just as they concluded their obnoxious group hug, a series of explosions came from outside the window and took them completely by surprise.

“What’s that?” Topher asked. “This is a good neighborhood, right?”

“It’s the Fourth of July, dummy!” Sam reminded him. “They must be launching fireworks over the pier! Come on, let’s go watch them together!”

The reunited friends joined a massive crowd on the Santa Monica Pier to watch the colorful show together. They had a lot more to celebrate than just their country’s independence. Their new devotion to one another suddenly made the future seem brighter than it had ever been. No matter what life threw their way, they knew they’d have one another to help them through it.

Halfway through the fireworks Topher felt another buzz in his pocket. He looked down at his phone and saw a new notification from CashCarter.com:

Wanted you to know I’m in Phoenix getting help. Hoping you guys can stop by on your way back. Said some things I really regret. 778 S. Grant Street. —CC





Chapter Twenty-Two

PROMISES

On Wednesday, July 5, the Downers Grove gang awoke early to begin their two-thousand-mile journey back home. After a very long and tiresome discussion, Topher persuaded his friends to add an extra hundred miles to their return route so they could visit Cash Carter in Phoenix, Arizona.

Seven hours later, the station wagon arrived in Phoenix and pulled into the parking lot of the Sunny Skies Care Center located at 778 S. Grant Street. Topher got out of the car and walked a few yards toward the care center when he realized he was alone.

“Are you guys coming?” Topher asked.

“We agreed to come to Phoenix, but we never said any of us were going to see him,” Mo said.

“He wants to apologize,” Topher said.

“Then he can send us a letter,” Sam said. “I don’t want to see him.”

“But he broke down the barriers between us, remember?” Topher said.

“He still betrayed us,” Joey said. “If you want to feel like a Good Samaritan, that’s great, but none of us feel inclined to do him any favors.”

Topher didn’t argue any further. The only reason Topher was compelled to see the actor was because he, too, had said some things he regretted. Getting a chance to apologize would be a relief for them both.

“All right, all right,” he said. “Here, take my keys and keep the engine running so you don’t overheat. I’ll try to make this quick.”

Topher left his friends in the car and walked up a stone path to the Sunny Skies Care Center. The lobby was very clean and decorated in light, relaxing colors. Topher spoke to a nurse at the front desk.