Page 99 of Fueled Hate

“It’s nothing. I just don’t want to relive that night again.”

“So why lie about Parker?” I ask, not being able to connect the dots. Unless … “Is someone threatening you into keeping quiet?”

“No. That’s not it. If you care about me at all, you’ll just drop it and tell Dylan to get as far away from here as possible.”

Standing in the parking lot, I watch as she drives away. I care about her, I do. But I care about Dylan too. If she has answers Dylan needs, then I have to know. I just pray she’s not being threatened or maybe keeping secrets to protect someone else.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Dylan asks as I walk back into the café, clearly rattled.

“Parker wasn’t there.” But he knew that. He tried to tell me. “Why would she lie to me about it?”

“To protect someone.”

“Who? She hates Kyle.”

Dylan reaches over, his hand squeezes mine. Something is about to change. Whatever he has to say will change things yet again.

“Just tell me.”

“Andrew. She’s protecting him.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Because she hasn’t been staying at Parker’s, she’s been staying with Andrew.” He pauses as I shake my head. He has to be mistaken, but I know he’s not. “They’ve been seeing each other for a while.”

“Why would she do that? How can she do that to Parker?”

“That, I can’t answer.” Dylan drapes his arm over my shoulder, placing a kiss on my forehead. “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Yes.” I shouldn’t miss another class but there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to focus. Willow and Andrew? Sorting through my memories there’re moments that look completely different. Is nothing as it seems?

56

Dylan

I’d already figured as much but now I know beyond a doubt that Willow is covering for Andrew. What I don’t know is if it’s for something that was an accident or something that was set into motion intentionally.

“Have you talked to Willow?”

Sadie solemnly shakes her head. “She’s not responding to my calls or messages.”

“Just give her some time. I’m sure she’ll explain everything to you later.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.” I know what I want to do. But every time I barrel headfirst into something, I end up crashing hard into a brick wall. I can’t do that. Not now. Not after everything that’s happened. I need to find out what happened to Noah, but I need to stay on the path that leads to Sadie. The only one where she’s still by my side. “I have to know, Sadie. I just want to talk to him. Ask him the truth. I did that with Kyle, and I should’ve just asked from day one instead of going around and trying to punish everyone. I almost lost someone I can’t live without because I was so set on avenging something when I don’t even know what happened.”

“Do you want me to come with you? I’m supposed to go into work, but I can show a little late if necessary.” She rubs her palms up her arms. “I’m not looking forward to going back there anyways or seeing Jett again.”

Grabbing her hand in mine, I pull her onto my lap and give her a reassuring kiss. “You don’t have to worry about him. He won’t be bothering you, and he won’t be serving another drink at Big Tobe’s.”

“What did you do?”

“After I left your dad’s that morning, I went straight to the diner and told Toby what Jett did to you. I was ready to burn the place down before I’d let you walk into that building again where he was lurking nearby. Toby called Jett in to speak with him, but he quit on the spot, saying that you were trying to set him up. Toby said he didn’t buy that bullshit because of how quick Jett was to tuck his tail between his legs and run off.”

“Thank you.”

“It still wasn’t enough after what he’d done to you.”