Chapter 2: The Back Seat

Thunder and lightning rattled the windows that stormy day, a classic Midwest summer squall that made you check the weather app twice and wonder if the Cubs game would be rained out again.

I stood with my tote bag under the awning by the office entrance, anxiously glancing at my phone for the tenth time, waiting for my boyfriend, Caleb, to swing by and take me home. I could feel the humidity clinging to my skin, my hair frizzing up from the drizzle.

These were the days when grabbing an Uber was pointless. Around me, coworkers were grumbling about surge pricing, someone offering me a half-warm Starbucks from the break room, everyone commiserating about having to wait at least half an hour for a ride.

My own car was still at B&B Auto for repairs, not ready until next week. I felt a tiny flicker of pride for giving Caleb that new Outback last month—at least my investment was about to pay off for me tonight.

I waited, watching as coworkers peeled off one by one, darting into rideshares or dashing to the bus stop under umbrellas. Finally, when the parking lot was empty except for me, Caleb’s Outback rolled up, wipers squeaking as it crept through puddles.

Caleb rolled down the window, his voice warm but sheepish: “Maddie, were you worried waiting?”

He reached over and popped the back door for me. “Hop in, quick—before you turn into a popsicle.”

When I got close, I realized there was already someone settled in the front seat—a girl with long, glossy brown hair and a round, doll-like face, like she’d just walked out of a shampoo commercial.

The rain was coming down in sheets, so I ducked into the back, trying not to drip all over the seats as I wrangled my umbrella closed, water running down my sleeve.

“Oh, water, water!” The girl in the front twisted around, frowning as she pointed at my umbrella. “Could you maybe leave your umbrella on the floor by the door before you close it? Rainwater gets everywhere. This car’s brand new—just picked it up last month—and these seats are real leather.”

The way she said it, all prim and proprietary, like she was the one making the monthly payments, really got under my skin.

I’ve never been one to keep my mouth shut. I gave her a look and let out a short, brittle laugh, my hands tightening around the strap of my bag. “Relax, it’s my boyfriend’s car. If it gets soaked, that’s on us. Why are you acting like you’re the one making payments?”

She flushed, her hands suddenly busy fiddling with the air freshener hanging from the mirror.

Caleb slid into the driver’s seat, brushing rain off his jacket. “She’s just being considerate, Rach. Don’t give her such a hard time.”

I shot him a look. “So who is she?”

“Oh, her.” Caleb buckled his seatbelt with one hand, avoiding my gaze. “I told you before—my carpool buddy, Madison. Maddie works at my company and lives in our neighborhood. It’s right on my route, so it’s easy to swing by. Just trying to be neighborly.”

Behind us, car horns blared as someone got impatient. Caleb hurried to adjust his seatbelt, fumbling a little.

Maddie leaned over and clicked the buckle for him like she’d done it a hundred times.

Then she turned around with that same sugary smile. “Sorry, Rachel, I shouldn’t have made you wait so long. My bad for eating slow and making your boyfriend late picking you up. Please don’t be mad.”

“What are you talking about?” Caleb said, steering with one hand and reaching over with the other to tap her forehead. “Rachel is way more mature than you. Not like a certain Maddie who needs to be coaxed just to eat.”

“I just didn’t have an appetite because it’s my period.” Maddie shot back, reaching over to ruffle Caleb’s hair with an easy, practiced intimacy. “And I’ve told you a million times—don’t call me that in front of other people. I’m not a little kid.”