Page 70 of Run
“Wh— Did you know each other before the accident? How long have you been friends? How did I not know this? How … Why … I can’t …” He puts his hands on his head in exasperation.
“We met yesterday,” I explain. “I looked Knox up while I was in recovery and I wanted to reach out to him, which I did right before our date—”
“Ohmygodthe date!” Dee exclaims.
I’d nearly forgotten we have an audience. And since during lunch I filled the ladies in on my date with Ethan, they’re completely up to speed. “Lizzie texted today to offer me some support, which I’m going to take her up on,” I say.
Ethan is breathing heavily.
Lizzie has her hands over her mouth and looks like she may cry or puke.
Dee has her elbows on the counter and is resting her chin on her fists as she watches this shitshow unfold.
Sophie puts her fists on either side of her head and makes a rumbling sound as she pulls them away and splays her fingers, as if her head is exploding.
“Fucking Knox,” Ethan bites out, then looks up at Lizzie. “Was he drunk? High?”
Huh?
She darts her eyes to me and shakes her head but says nothing.
“How did he hit someone who was crossing the road, then? If he wasn’t under the influence?”Ethan presses.
Lizzie remains silent and keeps her eyes locked with mine.A moment passes and Ethan curses under his breath, his hands on his hips and his head hanging down. “Sophie, are you giving Ari a ride back home?”
“Yeah.”
He nods. “Ari, I’m going to call you later.” Without looking at any of us again, he turns and storms toward the door.
“Where are you going?” I call after him.
“I’m going to kill that asshole,” he says as the door slams behind him.
Oh shit.
CHAPTER 24
ETHAN
The windows rattle as my fist bangs three times against the door.
“Knox!” I yell. “Are you in there? Open up!” I bang another three times and hear a dog start to bark.
I hear footfalls that sound like they’re coming down the stairs, the doorknob turns, and the door starts to open inward. I recognize Knox from the time he spent at my house with his crew renovating the kitchen.
“EJ?” he questions, brows pulled together, head tilted to the side. “What’s—”
Before he can finish, my fist connects with the side of his face, and he stumbles backward into the little entryway that opens up into a living room.
“The fuck?!” He grips his face.
“Get up.” I grab him by the hoodie, slamming him against the wall.
“What the hell is your problem?” Knox pushes my face away with the palm of his hand.
“I never had any problem with you, Knox. Your addiction. Yourindiscretion. I was always on Team Knox and Lizzie. But Ari? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
My fist lands in his gut and Knox doubles over, clutching his stomach and falling to his knees. “Wait! Wait a second. Ari? As in the girl from the crash?”
