“Face it, Piper. You need my help. Just say it.”
She wavered for a second, her hand pausing on the shiny handle. Her chest rose and fell softly as she deliberated. Then, her red locks shook with her head. “I don’t want you involved. You’re not racing for him. He’s bad news.” I was about to argue, but her head snapped to mine. “Wait a second. Why were you even there in the first place?” The flawless skin around her green eyes crinkled. “Is that what you do on Saturday nights? When Christian is with Hayley? Do you…race?”
My pulse buzzed in my ears. My fingers wrapped around my steering wheel as I twisted myself out from under her scrutinizing stare.
She reiterated, “Why the hell are you out there racing, Ollie?”
And I countered, “Who is Jason?”
“Why are you out there racing with those people? You shouldn’t be involved with them.”
I ignored her, asking again, “Who is Jason, and why are you so keen on helping him if you know these people are bad news? Must mean he’s bad news too.”
Piper shut her eyes tightly, her thick eyelashes fanning over her cheeks. “You really expect me to tell you my secrets, but you won’t tell me yours?”
Something inside me changed. A smirk crept along my face as I looked her in the eye. “A secret for a secret?”
Even in the dark, I could see Piper’s face turn a shade of pink. Her cheeks were dotted with freckles outlined by the burning feeling of embarrassment. That’s right, a secret for a secret. Ring any bells?
“Are you really going to play this game, Ollie?”
I shrugged, leaning back in my leather seat and propping my arm on the center console. “You’re the one playing games, Piper. If you won’t let me help you, then fine.”
Piper was right. I was playing a game. But I didn’t like to lose. She knew that.
“Fine?” she asked. “That’s it?”
“Yup,” I answered, forcing my face to stay neutral. I reached for my phone and started up a new text to Hayley.
Piper’s voice grew higher. “What are you doing?”
I stayed casual, shrugging. “Just texting Hayley.”
“What? Why?” Her words came out rushed, and my heart sped up.
“I’m going to fill her in. If you won’t let me help, you’ll let her help.”
Her gasp had my finger pausing over the keyboard. My pulse matched the bass of the song filtering through my speakers.
“I’ll tell.”
I looked at Piper out of the corner of my eye, pausing. “What?”
“I’ll tell your secret.” Her words were like ice in my veins.
Everything in my body froze. My hand was no longer moving over my phone screen. My breathing was drawn out, as if I couldn’t quite catch an even breath. The beating inside my chest pounded slow and hard as calculated anger flew through my veins.
I slid my gaze over to Piper, and she was leveling me with an equally horrified expression, as if she couldn’t believe she was stooping so low. “You wouldn’t,” I said under my breath.
I watched as Piper gulped, and she nodded her head slowly. “I will.”
My nostrils flared as I tried to rein myself back in. “So, there it is.”
Her eyebrows drew together in a mask of confusion.
“You’re finally going to admit it.”
Piper stayed silent. So, I continued on.