Ollie: Even though I’m not yours, will you still help me when I'm in trouble?
Dad: Ollie, you are mine.
Ollie: Answer the fucking question. Please. I need to know that when things get messy, you’ll be there.
Dad: Always. Now get home so we can talk. I need to explain.
Ollie: Call Michael in twenty minutes and tell him it’s time.
Dad: What? Michael who? The family lawyer?
Dad: Ollie?
Dad: Stop ignoring my phone calls. What is going on?
Dad: Son, are you in trouble?
Cars revved in the distance, and when I looked up, Ollie was staring directly at me. He knew I had read the messages, and he knew I was seconds from losing it. He shook his head slightly and mouthed the word, “No.”
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “What is he planning?”
I heard Hayley ask Christian, “Why does your dad keep calling you?”
“I don’t know!” Christian sounded agitated, but I kept my attention trained on that maroon Charger. “I don’t know what the hell Ollie is doing. He’s been so goddamn closed off. Won’t tell me anything. I’ve been trying to give him space like you said, but something isn’t right, Hayley.”
“No. Something isn’t right at all,” I mumbled, my hand covering my mouth. “This is all my fault.”
I looked down at Jason and met his eye. Why did I let him drag me into this? Why did I keep fighting for him? Was his safety worth mine? Were his life choices worth the destruction of mine? Or Ollie’s?
My head snapped back when I heard a girly, high-pitched voice counting down for the race. Panic seized my heart. My heart very well might have stopped beating. I felt my legs begin to take off, but I was quickly pulled back by strong arms.
“Piper!” Hayley got in front of my face as Christian held my arms. “You’re about to get run over!”
“He’s going to get in trouble, Hayley!” My voice was rushed. “I am not letting him take the wrap for something he should have never had any part in!”
I looked past her as I heard the cars taking off. Dust flew in every direction, taillights fading as everyone hollered.
“What do you mean he’s going to get in trouble?”
Christian continued to pull me back by my arms as people ran out onto the gravel road to watch the cars disappear. I almost shoved the phone in his face, but at the last second, I remembered that Ollie still hadn’t told him about being half-brothers. “He told your dad to call the lawyer!”
“What?” His hold began to loosen, and I was seconds from running to Jason to demand he tell me what was going on. But then I heard a frantic shout. “COPS!”
My hand shot to my mouth. Oh my God.
“Run!” Hayley grabbed onto my hand, and we ran after Christian, the tall grass whipping around my ankles.
I glanced back once, and through the billowing dust, I watched as Jason ran beside Eric.
Confusion slapped me in the face as Hayley and I tumbled into Christian’s Charger. It started immediately, and we were down the grassy field within seconds. Red and blue flashing lights swarmed the area in the distance, and when I flipped back around, my heart flying through my chest, I pulled Ollie’s phone out. I re-read the messages between him and his dad but paused when I heard Christian curse under his breath.
My heart stopped at the scene we were passing. There was Ollie and Tank, along with the other driver, standing outside their cars with their hands above their heads.
Guilt fell
over me like an avalanche. It was cold and painful, and I hated myself for getting him into this mess.
I pressed “Call” on the phone and felt nothing but remorse, even with Ollie looking completely unphased as he had cuffs slapped on his wrist. Tank was fuming; he wasn’t complying with the police, and that seemed to make Ollie even happier.