The Plan (Off-Limits Romance, #4)(82)

“What if he kidnaps me?!” I whisper-yelled.

At that, Tammy paused, like she’d just realized she was stuffing me into a car with a stranger. Her eyes shot up to the door before finding mine again. “Look, I know it’s a little crazy. It’s a little scary. In fact, I think this is why I never had kids because encouraging you to do this isn’t very motherly or whatever. But, Cooper, remember what I said this morning?” Her eyes lit up again. “I could feel it. I knew something big was going to happen, and this is it.”

“Me getting kidnapped by a strange boy was the good feeling you had?”

“You’re not getting kidnapped, you’re getting a free ride to a new life. Give me your phone.”

I couldn’t do anything in that moment but stare at her.

“Phone.” She said with a snap of her fingers. She snatched the device from my hands as soon as I numbly pulled it from my pocket, and then she was tapping around on the screen. “There. I shared your location with both me and Lily. I’ll keep an eye on you the whole time. And you call me every morning and every night to check in, okay?”

“What about Wyatt? I can’t just leave him short-staffed.”

“Don’t worry about this place.” She waved her hand. “We’ll manage.”

“And my parents—“

“Are awful people who have always treated you like a mistake and a regret instead of a human.”

My throat was tight with the air I couldn’t inhale fully, heart like a war drum under my ribs. “I can’t… I can’t do this. I—“

“Yes, you can. He has a car. He’s gorgeous, in case you didn’t notice. And he’s a free ticket to the place you’ve always wanted to go. Cooper,” she said my name to call my attention back to her, hands on my arms again as she leveled her face with mine. “You are dying in this town. Not your body, but your soul.” Her eyes pleaded with mine like she knew from experience. “Life isn’t supposed to be safe,” she added with a laugh. “If it was, they wouldn’t call it living. They’d just call it existing. And you’ve existed long enough, baby girl. It’s time to live.”

My eyes darted back and forth between hers, brain warring with my soul.

Be safe.

Take a chance.

This is crazy.

This could be fun.

You could die.

You could finally live.

You don’t even know him.

You want to.

Leaving Alabama is scary.

Leaving Alabama is what you’ve always wanted.

Tammy leaned in even closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Your worthless parents are going to suck you dry if you stay. Don’t let them. This is it, Cooper. This is life calling.” She shrugged. “Are you going to answer, or just let it ring?”

I think I went blind in those next few moments, because I hardly recall rounding the edge of the bar. I barely remember the feel of my heart in my throat and the sun on my face as I pushed through the front door just as he started backing out of the spot where he’d parked his convertible.

“Wait!” I called, the sound of my own voice breaking through the haze.

He stopped, sunglasses reflecting the front of the diner I never thought I’d leave as I struggled to catch my breath.

“I just need to grab my stuff.”