Page 121 of Take Me On (Pushing the Limits 4)
“Mom needs me.” And until last night, I’ve been able to pretend the truth hasn’t existed. “Dad’s a mess.”
“You’re eighteen. There comes a point in time when you need to start making your own decisions about your life. You can’t control your father and you can’t help your mother. They’ll either make it or they won’t.”
“What about Maggie?”
“I raised your mother. She’ll take care of Maggie and, trust me, your great-aunt will keep Maggie in line, too. The old bat is too mean to die.”
John scratches his forehead and I’ve never seen such an unsure gesture from him.
“What?” I hope it’s not bad. I’m already free-falling and I don’t feel like hitting a few rocks on the way down.
“When you get to California, you should talk to someone.”
“Talk?”
“Yeah.” His hand waves in the air. “A professional—like that Mrs. Collins.”
Uh...no. “I don’t need—”
“You do,” he cuts me off. “Something happened to you and as hard as I tried I couldn’t fix it. If you have to go, go, but don’t continue to live a half life.”
Mom sticks her head in the gym. “Can you lend a hand, Dad?”
John stands and Mom smiles at me. It’s not a reassuring smile. It’s the type that says she wishes she could reassure me. “Get your brother and cousin. I want to say our goodbyes and get on the road.”
I nod. That describes my life—nothing
but goodbyes.
West
With Abby riding shotgun, I weave through the streets of the industrial park at sixty miles per hour and slam on the brakes when we reach the last warehouse. I throw the car into Park and I’m out the door with the keys still in the ignition.
John steps out of his camper. “Heard you broke my granddaughter’s heart.”
“Where is she?”
“Gone. She left with her mother and father for California a half hour ago.”
He’s talking, but my back is already turned toward him. I slam the door to my car and the tires squeal as I back out and floor the gas.
Abby grabs on to the console. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going after Haley.”
“That was a stop sign. What the hell? Slow down. Slow down! West, fucking stop!”
I slam my brakes and we both lunge forward at the red stoplight.
“We’ve got to catch up. I’ve got to give her the option. I shouldn’t have tried to control her life.”
“Did you notice Kaden standing in the entrance of the gym?”
I blink. “No. Do you think John lied? Do you think she’s still there?”
Abby reaches over and shifts the car into Park. “She’s gone, West. Haley’s made her choice.”
Haley
