Lights flashed across the windshield, and I squinted at the road. “Geez.”
“Someone needs to learn how to turn off their brights.”
The headlights wove back and forth in front of us.
I leaned forward, trying to see better. It looked as if the driver wasn’t following the line of the road. “Are they drunk?”
Jase flipped the visor on his Jeep down. “I hope not.”
The truck veered off the side of the road and then back on. My stomach dropped. “I’m calling the sheriff’s department.”
“Don’t do that, Laik. They might just be tired.”
I hit the non-emergency number stored in my phone. “They could hurt someone.”
“I guess you’re right.” Jase flashed his lights at the oncoming vehicle.
Instead of slowing down and pulling over, the truck picked up speed, its engine revving.
“Carson County Sheriff’s Department, how can I help you?”
“This is Laiken Montgomery. We’re heading into town on twenty-two. I think the driver of a red pickup is intoxicated.”
“Are you safe?”
Jase pulled to the side of the road as the truck weaved again.
“My boyfriend just pulled over. I think we’re fine.”
“Okay, I’ve got deputies heading that way now.”
“Thank you.” I hung up as Jase idled.
The truck slowed and then stopped. A guy got out from behind the wheel and wavered as he strode towards us. I vaguely recognized him but didn’t know his name. He started shouting and cursing about us flashing our lights.
I gripped Jase’s hand. “I think you should go now. He doesn’t look like he’s in his right mind.”
Jase put the Jeep in drive and pulled off as our friends followed behind. The man shook his fist at us as we passed and screamed something I couldn’t make out.
I didn’t let out the breath I’d been holding until his taillights disappeared. “That was crazy.”
“Hopefully, the sheriff arrests him.”
“No kidding.”
I switched the radio off; the upbeat music not a match for that close call.
Jase linked his fingers with mine. “They’ll get ‘em.”
“I know.”
The faint sound of a souped-up engine cut through the night. I turned in my seat to see headlights swerving out from behind our three vehicles to pass. The red truck had to be going about ninety miles an hour. “Is he insane?”
Before Jase could answer, the truck slammed into the side of our SUV. I screamed as we spun. There was a sickening crunch as we hit one vehicle and then another. I lost track of how many times we collided with things. And then, we were airborne.
My seat belt jerked me against the seat as the Jeep flew into a roll. Flipping over and over, the sounds were deafening until everything blinked out. No sound, no sight, no feeling. There was simply nothingness.
I didn’t know how long the nothingness lasted before I blinked against it. I heard shouts from somewhere. That infiltrated my brain before the pain. But once the pain appeared, there was nothing else.