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couldn’t. My eyes were frozen open, capturing every horrific moment of the last minutes of my life.
    But as abruptly as the world was swirling around us, it came to a shrieking halt when she practically Tokyo Drifted into an empty parking spot. I leapt out of the car before she could even think about putting it in drive again, or at least, I tried to. My seatbelt grabbed me and thrust me back into the seat three times before I realized I still had it clipped in.
    “You okay there, slugger?” Ali snickered.
    I wanted to flip her off. No. I wanted to strangle her. What the hell kind of crazy nut job was she?
    “There is something severely wrong with you,” I hissed, pitching the strap off and throwing myself out of the car.
    It was amazing how a near death experience could make you love the scorching heat when your entire body was drenched in cold sweat. I would have doubled over and retched, except I still had some pride rattling around somewhere inside.
    “I haven’t seen driving like that since I was a kid racing my car down Dead Man’s Cliff for a chance to date Candy Jacobs, the prettiest cheerleader in my whole school,” Earl was saying when he hopped out of the backseat. “Ever considered it?”
    “Dating Candy Jacobs?” Ali teased. “Maybe for a second. Cheerleaders do funny things to my insides.”
    Earl laughed and patted her on the arm. “I meant racing.”
    Ali laughed. “No, I don’t drive nearly that crazy.”
    It was my turn to snort. “I don’t think there’s a name for your level of crazy,” I muttered.
    “Don’t listen to him,” Earl comforted, even though Ali looked unmoved by my statement. “He’s a stick in the mud.”
    “Are you sure it’s mud?” Ali replied crisply.
    Reaching in, she snatched up her purse out of the backseat and tossed the strap over one shoulder. She closed her door and motioned Earl to start walking. I followed at a much less steady pace.
    The restaurant was a steaks and burgers sort of place with a bright green awning straining partially over the sidewalk and shielding the five wrought iron tables and chairs. Large bay windows gleamed black in the late evening glare. It was a place I had seen in passing, but had never had a reason to go in; if it wasn’t delivered into the comfort of my living room, I had no use for it.
    “Do you want to sit inside, or out?” Ali asked Earl.
    His wizened face twisted. I wasn’t sure if it was in deliberation, or the fact that we were standing in the middle of the sidewalk with the sun beating down on us, but his eyes disappeared into the folds of his wrinkles and he pursed his lips.
    “Out,” he decided at last with a definite nod.
    I wanted to tell him he was out of his mind. No way was I going to park my butt on twisted bits of metal that had been roasting in the sun most of the day. But the verdict had been given and the pair were moving to an empty corner tucked between a potted plant and the window. I stayed rooted to the sidewalk, not by choice, mind you; the rubber on my shoes had begun to fuse into the concrete.
    Peeling free, I shuffled my way forward, careful not to nudge the other diners as I edged around them. The narrow path was not designed for a man my size.
    There was one seat available when I finally reached the table. I dropped into it. The cool metal felt amazing against the puddles of sweat collecting between my clothes and skin. Part of me wanted to strip naked and hug the thing to me.
    I was seriously dying.
    “You have to try the cheeseburger,” Ali was telling Earl when I struggled to pay attention. “I’m pretty sure they’re laced with crack.”
    Earl laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever had crack laced burgers before. Will definitely try it.” He sobered and turned shiny brown eyes on me. Reflexively, I stiffened. “So there’s a reason I asked you both here.” He folded his hands neatly on the table and straightened his shoulder. “I think we need to discuss what’s going on