Chapter 9
“The scan is clear, Miss Tyler. Unless you have other concerns, you can leave anytime you’re ready.
” The neurologist glances at his watch. “Although, it might be a good idea to stay the night and rest since it’s nearly eleven.
It sounds like you had quite the exciting day.
Just remember to take it one day at a time. ”
With that he turns to exit and gives Hendrix a cursory nod.
Once it’s the three of us alone again, I ask, “Did you explain what we learned before I collapsed?”
Dash nods as Hendrix crosses his arms.
“I can’t believe no one told me it was an intentional hit and run and not just a random thing. Especially your dad. That’s why he screamed about it being your fault.”
“Wait, what? I mean, I remember him saying it, but what did he mean, Dash?”
Dash turns and faces the window while dragging his fingers through his hair.
“Dash!”
He spins around again. “We were sneaking around because of your dad. When your parents found out about us, they forbid you from seeing me.”
“Why would he do that?” I ask.
“Because we’re rivals. You’re the competition.
I race too. I come from a long line of race car drivers.
We’ve raced in circuits against each other for years.
From kart racing to dirt track to regionals.
I applied to NASCAR. We both did. My application was accepted.
And yours was too, except, we—Lennon and me—we participated in a race before our license could process.
It wasn’t exactly a legal race. NASCAR found out because we were arrested, but the charges didn’t stick.
I won the race and Lennon crashed her car.
She walked away without a scratch because you’re…
Lennon is an excellent driver and knew how to handle herself, but your dad always blamed me for tempting Lennon to race.
I knew she couldn’t resist. The blame was thrown at me more after her car was gone over with a fine-tooth comb and found to be tampered with. ”
“What?” I ask in horror.
It’s Hendrix’s turn to hang his head as he listens to Dash’s story.
“No one ever found out who tampered with it?” I ask.
“I’m afraid not. Lennon knew it wasn’t me, but the damage was done in your dad’s eyes because not only did I put you in danger, but NASCAR pulled your application. They didn’t want any type of scandal.”
“Are you driving for NASCAR now?” I ask.
“No. I withdrew. Then Lennon and I started Indy races. We both worked to get sponsors, and we just finished our first year of racing together but still competing for different teams. I race for Full Tilt Racing.”
He comes to my bedside. “That’s why when I saw the footage of the accident, I assumed Lennon had to be driving. I know what you look like behind the wheel.”
Hendrix interrupts. “But I had just seen London, and she was driving Lennon’s car.”
Dash stares at me like there’s more truth bombs to drop.
“London was driving Lennon’s car then. They went out together, dressed the same except London had on a white shirt and Lennon was wearing black.
London dropped Lennon off at my truck parked down a street over from Tyler Motorsports, and then she came to see you here at the hospital while she waited on Lennon to call because you were working late and she wanted to bring you dinner,” he says toward Hendrix.
“So, London knew how to drive a stick? I thought Lennon was teaching her how,” I interject.
“It would seem London was better at it than any of us gave her credit for, but regardless, she couldn’t have handled that car the way the video showed,” Dash says.
“The twin they brought in alive was wearing a white shirt, Dash,” Hendrix says.
“I know. But they were trying to hide the fact that Lennon had been with me. I’ve seen them change into each other’s clothes over the years to keep what they were doing secret…
to cover for one another. But I’m telling you, even though London could drive a manual transmission, there’s no way she could drive it the way Lennon could.
I’ve watched her race and handle herself behind the steering wheel for years now. We’ve competed for a long time.”
Hendrix covers his mouth absorbing what he’s hearing. He leans against the wall like he needs something to hold him up.
“Hendrix,” I call for him. But he just shakes his head.
“Dash, get him a chair. Pull it over here beside me, please.”
Dash does as I say and tugs on Hendrix to get him to move and drop down into it.
“We still don’t know anything, Hendrix. If London was wearing a white shirt and it’s what I came in wearing, chances are that’s who I am,” I say as I squeeze his hand.
Hendrix stares at the floor and I feel him slipping away from me.
“Dash, what was Lennon wearing when you last saw her?”
He closes his eyes. “The black shirt.”
“Okay. Think. Did London come back to pick Lennon up?”
“Yeah, of course. It’s why you were together.
They played it off as Lennon was teaching London to drive her new car.
She hadn’t had the Hellcat for long. London always shared recipes and cooking tips with Lennon, and Lennon taught her what she knew about cars and how to drive them.
To anyone else, it looked like they were out riding around. ”
“My heart to shield, my heart to embolden,” I whisper.
Both men look at me this time.
“The engravings on the bracelets. We protected each other and encouraged one another.”
I reach up like I’m feeling for a necklace that should be there but isn’t.
“Jewelry. Was I wearing any?” I ask abruptly like I’m standing on the cliff of something important.
“No, but I assumed the necklace you were wearing was lost in the accident. When I saw you earlier that night though, you had on a diamond necklace I gave you. It was a solitaire,” Hendrix answers.
“Did Lennon wear a necklace?”
Dash nods. “She always wore a vertical bar that had her and London’s names on it, and it said two souls, one heart.”
“Okay, was my sister wearing a necklace when she came in? Or was it in her effects?”
Hendrix thinks for a moment. “No, she wasn’t wearing one, and no, I don’t remember a necklace with either of your effects.”
“You saw her?” I ask squeezing his hand again before he pulls it away.
He nods and his eyes water. “I did. They said she was DOA, dead on arrival, but I refused to accept it. I worked on her for twenty minutes before someone had to physically pull me away from her. The trauma surgeon had you, but I had to do something to try and help. But I couldn’t save her, no matter how hard I tried,” he says as he spreads his fingers looking at his hands like he sees something on them.
“I’m sorry. So, so sorry,” he whispers.
“I know, Hendrix. You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
Dash pulls a chair to the other side of my bed.
“If London was wearing white, and you saw Lennon get picked up still wearing black, isn’t it more likely she’s the one who’s gone?” I ask softly.
“You still could’ve changed after getting picked up,” he says trying to speak the possibility into existence.
“Would there have been time for us to stop and change according to the report?”
“No,” is all Dash says.
“But you could’ve changed shirts while driving,” he adds.
“You think so? Isn’t that sort of dangerous to do while driving?”
“Not if you were at a red light. Trust me. Y’all have had tons of practice over the years I’ve known you,” Dash says.
“And we told you this about us? If it was such a secret between the two of us, why would we do that?”
“Because you…because Lennon loves me.”
I turn to Hendrix. “Did you know about this? About us covering for one another.”
“Not to that degree but yeah, I knew y’all had done it before. London and I have been together the past two years. Dash would have more knowledge about things like that since he’s been around the two of you for a longer time, even though he and Lennon only started dating a year and a half ago.”
“Okay, well, I think I’ll listen to the neurologist and stay here tonight since it’s so late. My parents don’t know about tonight, do they?” I ask mostly to Hendrix.
“No, not unless you want them to. You’re a grown woman in your thirties.”
“Can you stay with me? Both of you?” I ask. I know it’s a big ask and even a selfish one. But I feel close to being whole and safe with them both. Especially now that I know I might be in danger. Each of them holds pieces of the truth I need. The truth we all need.
“I’ll stay,” Dash answers.
“Can you?” I ask Hendrix.
“I’ll stay too if you want me to,” Hendrix concedes.
I reach for each of their hands and close my eyes. Even though I know things will likely get worse before they get better, I’ll take comfort in having the two living people who care about me most in this world, besides my parents of course.