trying to calm down so I didn’t have to go back home and beat the shit out of my best friend.”
I want to smack him for putting this on Arrow. “It’s not Arrow’s fault you can’t keep it in your pants.”
He squeezes his eyes shut and smacks the steering wheel. “Can we just slow down and figure this out?”
“There’s nothing to figure out. I’m breaking up with you. This is over.”
“I love you,” he says. “How can you sit there and act like that means nothing? I’ve been so patient for you. Waiting when you weren’t ready.”
“You’re going to make this about sex? Like that excuses you?”
“Not just sex. Arrow.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Don’t bring him into this.”
“But isn’t it? Hasn’t it always been? You think I don’t see the way you look at him?”
I hold out my hand and am shocked to see it so steady when my gut is churning. “Just give me the keys so I can drive us home.” We’re off the side of the road at the top of Deadman’s Curve. The sun is gone, and our headlights cast out into the darkness that seems to go forever.
I reach for the door handle, and he hits the locks. We used to joke about the child locks being activated in this car, but right now it’s not funny.
“I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.” He reaches behind my seat and pulls out a bottle.
“What are you doing?”
He unscrews the cap and drinks. It smells like rubbing alcohol it’s so strong. “Just having a little fun on New Year’s Eve.”
“Let me drive, Brogan. Please. I don’t want to fight with you while you’re drunk.”
He shakes his head. “You have to make me believe we shouldn’t be together. If I let you go again, I don’t think I’ll ever get you back. Make me believe it, Mia!”
I set my jaw. If he wants a hit in the gut, I’ll give it to him. “I slept with Arrow. The night you and I were broken up.”
His lips curl into a snarl, and he takes another drink.
“I’m not trying to hurt you, Brogan.” What a lie. I want to hurt him. I don’t like being trapped in this car. I hate being made to feel like a hostage. This isn’t healthy, and he’s getting drunker by the minute. This isn’t the man I know.
He takes another swig. “I thought you were saving yourself for marriage, but you were only saving yourself for him.” He offers me the bottle, and I shake my head. “But it doesn’t matter. We love each other. We can get through this.”
“No. I don’t want to pretend that we’re this happy couple anymore. If that were true, you wouldn’t be sleeping with her.” I move as fast as I can, reaching across him to hit the button for the automatic locks and then reach for the door.
Before I can open it, he wraps a hand around my arm and squeezes too tight, making the skin throb beneath his fingers.
“You’re hurting me.”
“Don’t go.” He loosens his hold on my arm but doesn’t let me go. “Promise me you’ll stay here until we figure this out.”
I take a breath. He’s not acting like himself. I can’t reason with him. “Okay,” I say, “but we have to stay here. You’re too drunk to drive.”
He looks out the window and nurses the bottle.
I surreptitiously fish my phone from my purse and type a quick text to my brother.
Deadman’s Curve. Brogan’s red Jetta. Come get me. SOS.
Brogan swings around to look at me right as I tuck my phone away. I fold my arms and promise myself Nic is on his way. I’ll sit here and talk to Brogan, and soon enough Nic will be here and everything will be fine. Maybe if I can calm him down, Nic could drive Brogan home, too. He’s in no shape to drive himself and I can’t leave him here.
Everything is gonna be fine.
I whisper the sentence to myself on repeat, but I don’t believe it. It feels like everything is spinning out of control. Like tonight is the beginning of the end.
Arrow
Two a.m.
“Wake up.”
My eyes are gritty and my head aches like every member of the BHU drum line is in there pounding on me. I squeeze my eyes shut again, trying to block out the pain.
“Arrow. Wake up.”
Coach.
Where the fuck am I? I pry my eyes open again, and Coach stands over me, leaning into the car down and