Twenty-Two
Careena
My phone buzzes early Saturday morning. I wipe the sleep from my eyes and pick up the device that fell into my shirt after I talked to Duke all night. It sidles to the mattress and continues to ring. I contemplate ignoring it, but give in and stick the screen to my face.
“Why do you hate me?” I grumble.
“Careena?”
My eyes shoot open. I sit up. “Alice? I’m so sorry. I thought it was one of my brothers. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Then why are you whispering?”
She speaks in a slightly louder tone. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I need a favor. Could you pick me up?”
“What about Duke? Have you asked his permission?”
“Yes,” she says in a way that makes me think she hasn’t. “His class isn’t until nine today so he’s sleeping in.”
“Oh.” I rub my eyes. “I’ll get dresse
