be talking to you if not for your mother,” he says, his words striking like bullets. “Hasn’t she been through enough?”
I slump down in the seat. How is it possible for me to feel so miserable and selfish, and still not regret my decision? “I’m sorry I left like I did,” I say. “I didn’t know what else to do. You and Mom would’ve tried to stop me, and I had to go, Wyatt. I had to.”
“You’re right—I would’ve tried to stop you. But you know what? That was then. I don’t care what you do anymore.”
Tension crackles in the silence that follows, and when I speak, my voice is shaking. “I’m going to tell you where else we’re going, but you can’t tell Mom or it’ll only upset her worse. Someone needs to know where we are, just in case something happens. Will you keep it to yourself?”
“I said I don’t care what you’re doing.”
I watch the road markers skip past outside my window and try not to cry. “Ty’s taking me to see Iris’s boyfriend, Jake Milano. I found him, Wyatt. We talked on the phone. We’re meeting him in Oklahoma City before we go to Maryland. That’s where we’re headed now.”
“Why?”
“Because Mom won’t answer my questions.”
He huffs a bitter laugh. “And you think some guy you’ve talked to once on the phone can?”
“I have to find out,” I answer, hating my pathetic, pleading tone.
“Don’t you think that’s dangerous?”
“I’m not alone. Ty’s with me.”
“So you said,” mutters Wyatt, oozing sarcasm in my ear.
“I don’t blame you for being mad, but for Mom’s sake, please don’t tell her I’m going to meet Jake. She would totally freak out.”
The lights of some small town twinkle in the distance. The car engine hums. Wyatt says, “I’ll cover for you on one condition.”
“Name it,” I say, then hold my breath.
“Hand the phone to Collier.”
Apprehension sinks like a stone to the pit of my stomach as I extend the phone toward Ty. “He wants to talk to you.”
Ty takes the phone. “Hey, Wyatt.”
I nibble my cuticle, watching him.
“I’m listening,” Ty says, then, “Loud and clear.” He hands the phone back to me.
Pressing it to my ear, I say, “Wyatt?” but he’s already gone. I frown at Ty. “What did he say?”
“It’s between Wyatt and me,” he answers, his focus narrowed on the road.
“That’s not fair.”
Ty’s mouth twitches. “Let’s just say that if anything happens to you, my anatomy’s going to suffer a radical transformation.”
Sometime later, we stop at a gas station at the side of the highway. A fast-food restaurant is attached, so I buy burgers, a couple of soft drinks, and snacks while Ty fills the tank. We eat on the move, and when we finish, the road lulls me to sleep.
I wake to the sound of Ty talking into his phone. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up and stretch. The Incubus song “Black Heart Inertia” flows from his iPod and through the car speakers.
“We should be there the day after tomorrow at the latest,” says Ty into his phone. “Probably early, but if something slows us up, I’ll let you know.” A pause, then, “No, Mom. I don’t want to talk to him. Just tell him . . . tell him we’ll talk after I’m home, okay?” Another pause. “I love you, too.” He puts the phone away.
“How are your parents?” I ask.
“Hanging in there.” He stares ahead. “Mom said to tell you hello.”
I nod, unable to imagine what she must be going through. “How’s Kyle?”
“The same.”
“Do you think we should go straight there? I can postpone the meeting with Jake.”
“No, it’s okay. This is only going to sidetrack us a few hours. Kyle will hold on for a long time if he’s hooked up.”
Hearing the guilt and remorse in his voice, I remove my seat belt, lean across the console, and kiss his cheek.
“Put your seat belt back on,” Ty snaps. “I’m scared shitless as it is driving you anywhere after what I did to Kyle.”
I sit back and buckle up again. “It was an accident, Ty.”
His jaw clenches.
“You’re human. You made a mistake. You didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt, least of all your brother. He wouldn’t want you to blame yourself.”
“There’s no one else to blame. Just ask my dad.”
“Has he said he holds you responsible, or are you just assuming he does?”
“He doesn’t have to say it, I see it in his face.” Ty swallows, and his fingers clench the steering wheel. “After it happened, he