by A. J. Logan
Running into the garage bay, I see his beaming smile fade into fear. “Sadie, what is it? What’s wrong?”
I wheeze, sucking air into my lungs, but I can’t catch my breath. “I need your help.”
He surges forward, wrapping me in a hug as he moves to walk into the lobby of the shop.
Panicking I shake my head. “No. No. No.”
“Shhh. It’s okay. Sadie, what’s going on?”
“I need a ride. Can you get me out of here, please?”
“Let’s go.” He keeps his arm around me as he walks me to his truck, helping me in the passenger seat before hurrying around to the driver’s side. The truck roars to life and takes off out of the parking lot. He asks only one question. “Where do you want to go?”
Dylan. “Sunland. Can you take me to Sunland?”
“Sure thing. Put on your seat belt.” He buckles his as he keeps his eyes on the road. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sadie, you can come to me for anything, anything at all.”
I can’t get him involved now that I know how desperate my dad is to protect Levi.
“I promise I’ll tell you someday, but I can’t right now. Can you promise me one thing?”
“Anything. You name it.”
“Please don’t tell anyone, especially my dad, that you gave me a ride home. Okay?”
He gives me a weary look but agrees. “I can do that.”
“Thank you,” I mutter, so very thankful for him. Recalling the day Dylan made a surprise stop at the shop and Mr. George took an immediate liking to him, I figure maybe Mr. George is a better judge of character than I’d thought. At least I hope so, because I don’t trust any of my own judgment right now because I couldn’t have been more wrong about everyone in my life.
53
Dylan
“I need to buy you a muzzle,” Bryce chirps as he plops on the couch next to me. “You never know when to just shut up.”
“Buy two. I know someone else with the same issue.” My head falls back as I try to close my eyes, only seeing her face. Fuck. How am I gonna fix this—again?
“Seriously, man. I left you alone for a few hours and you decided to dig your hole a little deeper.”
“Like you’re a good influence.” I look out the wall of windows, watching as the overcast morning moves along outside. My world feels like it’s at a standstill, and I’m not sure how to get it going again.
Bryce’s phone rings and after a pause, he answers, “Yep. All good,” then stands from the couch and walks towards the door. “I might not be a good influence, but I am a good best friend. Even when your ass doesn’t deserve it.” He points to his still swollen lip as he flips me off in the process.
Yes. I know I don’t deserve his mercy, though I’ve endlessly apologized.
He grabs the door, swinging it open, then turns to me with a cheesy grin. “Don’t fuck up this time, dude.” Sauntering out through the doorway, he gives Sadie a small nudge to move inside the room before closing the door behind him.
Best. Friend. Ever. I don’t care why she’s here. If he called her, if she came on her own. It doesn’t matter. He’d opened the door to the most magnificent person I’ve ever set eyes on in my life. Inside and out, and I need her. I can’t fuck it up this time. She’s mine.
Rising from the couch, I walk over to her. She keeps her arms folded over her chest, and her skin is flushed, eyes swollen from crying. She’s not okay, but she’s here. I can work with that. I want to make her feel better. Repair the damage I caused and patch up what everyone else has done.
“Sadie, I—”
“I need you to be honest with me. I need to know the truth even if it hurts.”
“I swear it. Just ask and it’s yours.” My fingers ache to reach for her but she looks like a feral kitten, ready to scatter at the first sign of movement.
“Did you know? Did you know that Levi did it? That my dad was protecting him?”
“Did what, Sadie?”
“Killed my mom.”
Speechless. Absolutely and utterly speechless.
“Did. You. Know?”
“No. I didn’t.”
“My dad has been shielding Levi. Keeping him from the consequences of his actions. He chose to protect Levi and use me as a bargaining chip—like I’m worthless.”
I can’t resist reaching for her as her hand raises, covering the sob escaping her mouth.
“You’re worthy of so much more love and appreciation than what you’ve been given.”
Her shoulders shake as she clasps my shirt, fisting the fabric tightly as she buries her face against my chest. I’d give every penny in the world to take this pain away.
“You’re priceless,” I whisper, kissing her head before I bend down, looping my arm under her knees and lifting her. Walking over to the couch, I drop down, keeping her on my lap as she clings to me. Her arms entwine around my neck, her legs curled to her chest. I don’t know what to do or say, so I sit there. My palm caressing her back while she cries, eventually drifting off to sleep as I hold her.
“I’ll never let you go,” I mutter against her hair as I close my eyes, eventually drifting off to sleep with her still in my arms, right where she should be—with me.
54
Sadie
The soft caress of his hand is what wakes me, but I know it’s a touch that belongs on me. He’s lying on his back on the couch while I’m stretched out on top of him, my face against his chest as his arms surround me. Safe. That’s how I feel. I’m not sure how long it’s been or how we ended up here, but I’m grateful.
Opening my eyes, I look around the hotel room, automatically fixating on the rain falling outside. After a few minutes, I lift my head, resting my chin on his chest as I look up to find his alluring eyes staring down at me.
He lifts his hand to my face, stroking his thumb along my cheek. “Priceless.”
Resting my cheek back against his chest, I watch as the rain falls outside, lightning striking across the sky as thunder rumbles nearby while we lie together in the serene room. “Can we just stay here forever?”
“That’s the plan.”
Exhaling, I close my eyes, enjoying the peace and quiet until the door swings open.
Bryce has one hand over his eyes, his other feeling the way in front of him as he hollers, “Y’all decent up in here?”
“Yes,” I smile.
He peeks through his fingers before completely removing them from his face, sitting on the armchair beside the couch. “Good because I’m starving. Let’s go get some supper.”
“I really should get back to my apartment.” I push up, sitting on the couch as Dylan does the same.
“I’ll come with you,” Dylan volunteers quickly. Thankfully.
“Excellent, I need a ride.”
“How’d you get here this morning?” Dylan asks.
“Mr. George drove me,” I smile at the thought of his warm smile and comforting hug before he left.
“I knew I liked him,” Dylan says.
“Yeah, he’s great. I asked him not to tell my dad though.”
The entire ride back to Sunland, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything my dad has done, everything Levi has done, and the fact that they are both just allowed to do it. It took all the guts I had, but I asked Mr. George to stop off at a restaurant just outside of Staffordsville so I could go in to use the restroom. Only, I asked to borrow their phone instead, calling in an anonymous tip about the drugs and my mom. They’ll know where the tip came from, and I’m okay with it. If they don’t have any consequences, they’ll just keep thinking it’s okay. Then, the next girl who gets drugged or the next life my brother takes will be on me. That’s a consequence, I can’t live with.
Walking out of the hotel, Dylan and I get into his car and Bryce follows behind in his. As we drive to get my Mustang, I think of how much I don’t want anything attached to my mom or dad and make the decision to
sell the car immediately. But it makes me think of another car.
“Have you thought about the race? Are you gonna try and get the STI back?” I ask, feeling Dylan tense a bit before his hand relaxes, bringing my wrist to his mouth.
“I’m not racing on that track again.”
“Are you really okay with that after everything?”
“Yeah. I can’t do that to my mom. My head will never be right driving on that track. And I’m happy with how things ended up.” He gives me a sexy smile.
“Me too. I was thinking though, I can get Willow to talk to Parker. Just ask him to tell what happened that night. I might not be the best judge of character, but I know Parker wouldn’t have hurt Noah. There’s just no way.”
“Parker wasn’t there, Sadie.”
“Yes he was. He hasn’t raced since that night.”
Dylan looks to me with a confused expression. “He wasn’t there, Sadie.”
“He doesn’t talk about it, but he was there. Willow told me that Parker was so shaken by seeing Noah that he didn’t want to race again. He won’t even talk about it with Willow it’s so bad. We don’t talk about it in front of him because he gets so upset.”
“Have you ever talked to him about that night?” Dylan asks.
“No, I haven’t. Willow said he was struggling after the accident, so I’ve never mentioned it to him.”
Dylan keeps a tight, emotionless expression.
“What’s going on?”
“He wasn’t there, Sadie.”
“Then why would Willow say he was?”
“Because she’s protecting someone else.”
“Who?”
“Andrew.”
“No, she wouldn’t.” Would she? I’ve been so wrong about the people close to me I’m questioning everything, even things I see with my own eyes. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, but we’ll figure it out together.”
Together. That is something I want to hear, but I’m scared of what we’ll find because so far nothing has been as expected. Why would Willow protect Andrew of all people?
I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, picking at Dylan’s T-shirt that I’m wearing after finishing up in the shower, as he takes one now. He can’t get done fast enough. He seemed extra curious about where Willow was and if she’d be at the apartment tonight. She’s not. She’s staying at Parker’s again, but Dylan was still insistent on staying at the hotel, saying he wanted to get a room to ourselves for the night, somewhere we could relax. It was a relief because the few minutes I was at my place to grab a few things, I just felt odd.
The hotel room feels more comfortable because it’s not attached to my parents in any way. Plus, the conversation Dylan and I had about Parker has me unsettled. I don’t want to question Willow, but I have to know. Dylan has to know. He might be okay not getting his car back, but I don’t think he’ll be okay never knowing what really happened. And I don’t want to be the reason he doesn’t find answers. He’s already showing a more sensitive, gentle side with me. And I appreciate it, enjoy it thoroughly, but I want both—the sweet, the sour, and everything in between.
Rising from the bed, I step into the en suite. Looking across the bathroom to where Dylan is under the stream of water, steam rising around him, I note his fists against the wall, his head hanging forward. He looks defeated.
Pulling the T-shirt over my head, I drop it as I remove my underwear and step into the shower. His muscles tense under my touch as I trail my fingertips across his ass, moving in front of him as he looks at me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. His arms loop around my lower back, pulling me to him.
“I can’t mess this up again.”
“You won’t. And even if you do, we’ll get through it. We have to.”
“Promise?” He presses a tender kiss on my lips.
“Promise.” Dropping my hands from his shoulders, I trail my finger over his muscular stomach. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything, everything,” he says, his hands gliding over my damp skin.
“Stop treating me like I’m going to break. I want both Dylans, all of you.”
“Sadie.” His throaty tone sounds strangled.
“Stop holding back.” I feather a kiss on his chest as I murmur, “I want to feel you.” His hands drop between my thighs, his fingers slipping inside me, softly stroking. It’s not enough. “Fuck me. Now.”
He cusses under his breath before his hands grasp my ass and he lifts me. My legs hook around his waist as he presses my back against the stone wall. His tongue licks my neck, desperately tasting me.
“I trust you. I’m yours,” I say breathlessly. His grip tightens on my ass, fingers digging in, as he thrusts his hips, burying himself in me. My arms cling to him as he repeatedly drives into me, my back hitting the wall.
“You’ve always been mine,” he says. With one last thrust, he comes inside me, remaining there as he nips at my neck with his teeth. “Always mine.”
Always.
55
Sadie
Class. Out of all the things we’re doing, we’re heading to class.
Surely, I should be doing something other than the mundane task of heading to class. If it were up to Dylan, we’d be in bed still. And I have to say, remaining curled up in bed with him all day is very appealing. But I feel like I need to find my peace and start living, not hiding.
What I can’t figure out is how to help Dylan find his peace, his contentment with what happen to Noah. He can say all he wants that he’s all right losing his car, but I don’t buy for one second that he doesn’t want to know the truth about what happened to Noah. And after the conversation about Parker, I want to know too.
“So, my mom asked if we’d go visit this weekend.”
“Um. I’m not sure that’s a good idea just yet. Last time didn’t go so well.”
“I had a few realities to face last time, and I took my anger and grief out on you. I can’t tell you enough how sorry I truly am. I’m good. We’re good. Come home with me, and I’ll gladly show you.”
“If you’re sure.”
“Totally.” He reaches over, giving my thigh a firm squeeze. “What if I were to ask you to come home with me for more than just the weekend?”
“I’d ask you if you were crazy.”
“I’d answer with I’m crazy about you.”
“Slick.” I smile, glancing out the window. “I’m not sure where home is but I have to finish school. It’s important to me.”
“That makes it important to me. Just know we have options, but I’m leaving it up to you because I’m along for the ride as long as you’re with me.”
“That I can agree to. We’ll figure it out together.”
Soon, we’re walking into the class. I sit next to Willow while Dylan takes a seat behind me.
Willow takes a quick look over her shoulder then leans over to me. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Everything is good,” I tell her honestly. It’s as good as I could hope for considering the events of last night.
The class goes by rather fast, then we’re heading off to Coyote Café for a much-needed caffeinated study session. Taking a seat at the table, Dylan informs Willow and me that he’s going to grab us some coffee.
“I know you care about him, but I’m worried about you,” Willow says.
“Really, I’m good.” I watch as Dylan stands in line, waiting on coffee. When he spots me checking him out, he gives me a sexy smile. Yeah. We should’ve stayed in bed all day. “Really good.”
“Has he mentioned anything about Noah?” Willow asks in a low voice.
“No. Maybe you can talk to Parker. Dylan just wants to know what happened that night. I think it’d help if he had answers to put his mind to ease.” Hopefully.
“He really doesn’t like talking about it. Every time I bring it up, he shuts me down.”
We take out our books and get situated as Dylan remains across the café, waiting i
n the slow-moving line.
Minutes later, Parker strolls in and plops down in the chair next to Willow. “Good morning.” He gives Willow a long smooch as she looks embarrassed by the sudden PDA. Parker seems unaware as he says, “I missed those lips.”
“Stop it,” Willow says, returning to her studies as she brushes him off.
“Come on. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you.”
I know I’m staring, but I can’t help it. Willow is uncomfortable with Parker. I’ve never seen that before. And Parker is saying he hasn’t seen her in forever and telling her good morning like it’s the first time he’s seen her today. Maybe she went back to our apartment last night after all.
“It hasn’t been that long,” Willow responds.
“Yes, it has. I’m taking the night off so we can hang out.”
“We’ll talk about it later.”
“What is there to talk about? Just stay at my place tonight.” Parker looks to me. “You don’t mind right?”
“No, of course not,” I respond intently, watching the exchange closely because I can’t pinpoint what’s off.
“See. Sadie won’t mind a night without you there. It’s my turn for a slumber party.” He kisses her neck as she tenses, looking to me.
His turn. She’s at his place more than she’s at ours. “Maybe Dylan and I can stop by, if you don’t mind, Parker.”
“Not at all. The more the merrier.”
Not sure how merry the topic is but here goes. “I kind of have a big favor to ask, but you can say no if it’s too much.”
“Sure,” Parker says.
Willow turns to Parker as she gives me a panicked look. “Don’t you have enough going on already?”
“I can always make time for Sadie.” Parker leans forward, placing a kiss on the tip of Willow’s nose before he turns to me. “Whatcha got?”
“It’s more for Dylan than me.”