Chloe pulled a face. "One concession: you're stuck with me as a chaperone. I hope you girls can handle that."

Chaperone? Girls? Heh? I was completely confused. I felt like they'd duct-taped me to the wall, and they were chucking random puzzle pieces of info at me, expecting me to somehow grasp the whole picture. Which I wasn't. "Just tell me. Please!"

Dad grinned. "Okay, okay." He paused just long enough for me to get dizzy with antic.i.p.ation. "In a couple of weeks, Chloe is taking you and Meryl to New York City for a girls' weekend, and you'll get to see Caressa's show."

My entire DNA lurched, I was so stunned by his words. Can I just say, U-N-E-X-P-E-C-T-E-D. In a global way. Holy, holy, holy-I gripped onto the table edge, shaky with excitement, jaw hanging open. I had so many questions, I didn't know where to start. "Oh my G.o.d! D-does Meryl-?"

"It's all been cleared with Meryl's parents and her bosses, but she doesn't know about it yet." Dad winked. "We thought we'd tell you first, since it's your birthday gift, and let you pa.s.s on the surprise."

"It has to be before your actual birthday, because Caressa will be home by then," Chloe added, with a sympathetic twist to her lips. "Hope that's okay."

Like what was I going to say? Stomp! "I will not go to New York City before I'm officially eighteen, and that's final!"

Adults, I swear.

Like, who cared when? I almost pa.s.sed out, I was so psyched. "Oh. My. G.o.d! Dad! Chloe! Really?"

They nodded. "Happy birthday, m'ija," Dad said.

I widened my eyes at Chloe. "You guys did this all behind the scenes? Without slipping up?"

"At the agency while you were there, in fact." Chloe laughed. "We're good, aren't we?"

I admit it-my cool flew straight out the window like a bird. I jumped up from my chair and danced around, squealing and laughing like a simpleton. When I'd regained a semblance of my composure, I gave both of them huge bear hugs, then demanded all the pertinent details, none of which I could actually retain. I mean, New York City! And Caressa's show! And getting to meet her hottie dancer boyfriend! Could it get any better than that?

When I finally sat back down, my tummy was so swirly I couldn't eat. Well, except for dessert, because my dad's homemade flan-a Mexican caramel custard-was To Die For, and there's always room for dessert. But it was all good, because leftover chicken enchiladas make a great breakfast (really), so I'd get to enjoy them tomorrow with my coffee.

I repeat: Oh. My. G.o.d.

New York City!

I kept blurt-giggling as my wannabe chef Dad plated the jiggly flan, topped it with caramel sauce, then set it before us. I couldn't help it. Dad and Chloe continued blabbering about the details, but all I heard was, like, "Flight-blah blah blah-Hotel-blah blah blah-New York City!"

I couldn't think of a better eighteenth birthday gift!

Honestly, it was utter perfection.

And that's when it hit me, right during my second bite of flan. The brainstorm. Actually, I don't know if it was a brainstorm or a brain fart, but there you have it.

I swallowed my flan, heart pounding, then looked across the table at Dad and Chloe. "Um...I just thought of something. It might not be possible, but..." Doubt crept in like a squatter. "No, never mind."

Dad glanced at Chloe, then back at me. A line of curiosity bisected his forehead. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just..." Maybe I should just go ahead and ask. I'd already started. UGH!

"What is it?" Dad urged.

I had to take several breaths before I could get the question out without sounding shaky. "Do you think, maybe, Jennifer could come with us?"

That rendered them both dead silent.

I mean, they looked sh.e.l.l-shocked, truth be told, which made sense because they know Jennifer's and my sketchy history. Or, wait-maybe it was a fiscal blow. Maybe I'd asked for too much.

Maybe I seemed ungrateful!

I cleared the panic from my throat and, you guessed it, rambled. "I mean, I only suggest it because she's had a c.r.a.ppy summer. Like, the c.r.a.ppiest. And she'll have to face the evil flying monkey posse on a daily basis come September. So her senior year will be even worse which, like Dylan told me, you can't really relive. Unless you're Bart Holyoke, who relived it twice, but it's not the same thing-Dylan said that, too. What I mean is, Jennifer won't be able to cheerlead-is that a word? I'll ask Meryl. Or wear cute clothes, and oh-then Christmas will blow because of the whole going into labor thing and giving her baby away deal." I flipped my hand. "I know it's probably way too expensive, so just forget it. But I haven't gotten her a present yet because I couldn't think of anything good. New York-now that's good. The sleepover is in two days, so I have to come up with something. Wait! I can pay for it out of my check-if you don't mind me taking just a little bit longer to reimburse you for the car, Dad. I just think it would be nice-"

"Lila," Dad said.

I snapped my mouth shut. Sometimes, during one of my infamous uncontrollable rambles, my dad could bark my name just so, and it worked like the perfect slap across the face that knocks a person out of hysteria.

"I get travel benefits from work," Chloe said softly, "so it wouldn't cost much at all."

Gulp! "Really?"

She nodded. "I'd be more than happy to include Jennifer. If that's what you really want."

I blinked. Was it? "It is. I think."

Dad and Chloe beamed with so much pride, I almost needed sungla.s.ses to look at them.

"It's so generous of you, m'ija."

"You raised an amazing daughter, Nathan," Chloe said, all bright-eyed and sappy.

Ew. I didn't want all these accolades. In fact, the sap quotient in the room had reached a barf-worthy level. "Well, if she can even go." Let's not get ahead of ourselves with the whole Lila Is a Saint deal. "Her parents are jacka-"-oops-"um, jacking her around."

"I'll talk to Jennifer's parents," Dad said, his tone confident. "Her father's involved in the city council and I know him quite well. I'm sure I can make him understand how beneficial this trip would be for his daughter's morale."

Wow, thug it out, Dad! The way he said it, I knew he'd handle the mean Mr. Hamilton, no problemo. "Can you find out before Friday? I'd like to tell her at the sleepover if I can."

"I'll do my best," Dad said.

"Jen will be so thrilled," Chloe said. "You're such a sweet, thoughtful girl."

I smiled, closed mouthed and feeling just this side of nauseated. First the chicken enchiladas, and now I couldn't even finish my flan. That sucked. Plus, the second-guessing had begun. I'd been given the best trip ev-er for my birthday, with my very bestest, truest-bluest friends in the universe, and who did I spontaneously invite to join us?

Jennifer Hamilton. Of all people.

Helping her with the pregnancy stuff was one thing. Welcoming her into the inner circle? Whole different issue. But what's done is done. No turning back unless I wanted to look like a complete a.s.s to Dad and Chloe.

Plus, I must admit, the warm fuzzy factor was pretty dang high. Last year I'd been busted for forging parental signatures at school and had totally lost my dad's trust. This year I was, miraculously enough, a "sweet, thoughtful girl." If that's not personal growth, folks, I don't know what is.

I just hoped all this growth was worth it.

On that frightening note, I said a silent prayer that my impulsive let's-include-my-former-enemy suggestion didn't come back to bite me.

The instant we'd finished cleaning up dinner, I excused myself and dashed up to my computer to see if Meryl was signed on. She was-probably studying, knowing Mer. Summer, be d.a.m.ned! Ya gotta love her. I released a long, relieved breath.

My fingers shook as I keyed in the IM: LawBreakR: Mer, I don't care if UR studying Bosnian, even if UR about 2 have a breakthrough moment in UR learning. U have 2 come 2 my house right now. Not kidding. It's urgent.

I drummed my fingers on the edge of my desk like I'd had a Red Bull/espresso combo with an extra shot of ADD while I waited for her to reply. She was, admittedly, quick about it, but it seemed like it took about five years.

MerylM: Are you okay?

LawBreakR: I'm fine. No, I'm great.

MerylM: I can't come over. Something's wrong with The Beast-it won't start. Dad's taking a look at it tomorrow. He thinks it's something to do with the-never mind. Can you come here instead?

LawBreakR: I'll be there in 5 minutes.

MerylM: Lila, it's a 15 minute drive on winding roads. Don't be reckless. And watch out for deer. I'll be waiting.

Reckless schmeckless. We're talking New York City! I signed off and bounded down the stairs with all the grace of a stampeding rhino, startling my Dad and Chloe, who were watching TV. They both spun to face me.

I pointed toward the front door. "Can I run to Meryl's and tell her about the trip?"

Dad relaxed. "Of course. Just calm down and remember your promise to always drive carefully."

"I will," I said on the fly as I palmed my keys and yanked my purse off the table by the front door.

"Lila Jane!" Dad said, snapping me to attention.

"Yeah?"

"Focus on your driving," he said, in his police chief voice, leveling me with a deadly serious stare. "I'm not kidding."

"I will." I sighed with a fair bit of drama, then smiled at my boss. "Bye, Chloe. See you tomorrow and thank you again. So much."

"Bye, honey," she said.

It didn't even bother me that she called me honey. In fact, I kinda liked it.

Seventeen thousand hours later (it seemed), I spun gravel as I parked in front of Meryl's house. As promised, she was waiting for me on the front porch swing, pushing it in a lazy sway with the toes of one bare foot. When I cut the engine, she glanced at her watch face, then shook her head. Okay, so I'd actually shaved five minutes off the drive, but I didn't tailgate, and no wild animals were injured or killed in the process. My tires didn't squeal once. So there. My car door slammed.

She stood up and spread her arms wide. "What on earth is going on?"

"Sit down." I walked toward her.

"I just stood up."

"I know," I said, taking the steps two at a time. "Reverse it. Trust me."

She sat. I plunked down next to her.

I sucked in a deep breath and let my shoulders drop on the big exhale. "Dad gave me my birthday present tonight. Well, Dad and Chloe."

"Chloe, too? Cool!"

"I know. It wasn't even weird." I shrugged.

"But it's not your birthday yet."

"I know that, too. It had to be early. You'll understand in a minute." I tucked one foot under the other leg as I faced her and clutched her hands in mine. "Here's the thing. We're going to New York City to see Caressa's show."

A huge grin lit up her face. "You are? How fantastic!"

"No," I said firmly. "We are. You and me. We. That's the present. A long weekend in the Big Apple, just us girls. And Chloe. Well, she's a girl, but you know what I mean."

Meryl went completely still as she studied me. "What are you talking about?"

"It's the big surprise!" I said, bouncing enough to make the porch swing jerk and jolt on its chains. "And, get this: your parents, Reese and Kelly-they all know about it. It's planned and approved, and in two weeks we're going to be in New York City seeing Caressa and her show and her hottie-boyfriend and hottie-Thomas-bodyguard and Times Freakin' Square!"

Meryl's face went bright red and she squeezed her palms against her cheeks. "Wow! Really? We're going to New York City?! They included me?"

"Yes!"

We jumped off the swing, leaving its chains jangling, as we hopped and bopped around the front porch, holding each other's hands and cackling like crazy women. During a pause in the sheer insanity, Mer asked, "Does Caressa know yet?"

"Nope. So far it's just me and you."

She pulled me toward the front door. "Are you kidding? Let's go IM her right now!"

I resisted, and she glanced back. "What?"

"There's one other teensy thing."

She turned her head to the side, studying me through narrowed eyes. "Uh-oh. Is this the bad part?"

"Not necessarily." I moistened my lips with a quick flick of my tongue, then cringed. "It's just...you know how I've been wrestling with what to get for Jennifer for her birthday?"

Confusion showed in her eyes. "Yes?"

A beat pa.s.sed. "I sort of...asked Chloe and my dad if she could come along, too. I just thought she needed a break."

Meryl's features softened, and she relaxed. In fact, tears brimmed her blue eyes. "Oh, Lila. That's so selfless of you, I don't even know what to say."

I pulled out of her grasp and held up both palms. "My dad has to talk to her parents first so it's not a done deal, but if they say yes, I'm going to tell her at the sleepover." I sighed. "Are you okay with that?"

She laughed, then pulled me into a hug. "I think it's amazing. You're amazing. I'm so lucky to have you as a best friend."

I was not comfortable with all these kudos. "Or a complete idiot. I'm not sure which yet."

"You're not. Jennifer's changed. You know it as well as I do. She's going to be so happy. Wait and see. And your karma is just glowing."

I groaned. "Okay, you've officially been working at Inner Power way too long, Mer."