Chapter 25 #2
Yeah, she was pissed. Dad was pissed. They're over it now though. I told them the truth, they're fine.
Cori
What did you tell them?
Carson
That I couldn't stay away from you.
I watch my phone as the three dots appear and then disappear from the screen.
Shit. Why did I say that?
I look over at Nash. My best friend is probably sitting right next to me, texting her too. She made it pretty clear the other night that she chose him. I don't even blame her for it. I do the same thing every single day.
I choose Nash too.
For someone who thinks the world is against him, he sure has a lot of people on his side.
The next day passes in a blur of fastballs and sweat, but I do my job. I showcase my talent, and the coaches are genuinely impressed.
I think.
Now, we focus on winning ball games this season. Well, winning ballgames and everything else in-between. Homecoming is at the center of things now that it's October. It will be the first year I don't have a date. Well, I take that back. It'll be my first year not going with Avery.
Nash and I grab our stuff and make our way around campus, waiting for my dad to pick us up.
He wanted to come today, but I pitch better without him lingering over me.
It takes a little bit of the pressure off.
Not that he's the type of dad who pushes sports or rides me over performance, but making him proud is important to me.
I didn't need him there to possibly distract me.
The campus is an uphill walk, no matter which direction you are going, so when we reach the top of the hill, Nash speaks, "It will be easy to lose the freshman fifteen living here."
I laugh at him, "I will live in the gym, and I don't drink, you know that."
Nash stops, seeing a couple of girls exit a building in short shorts and orange shirts, "I think I'm gonna live in there."
I sneer, "They remind me of Jovie."
Nash glares at me, "Why ruin it for me? Why?"
"Oh, come on, you can deny it all you want, but she does it for you."
Nash rolls his eyes, "She does when I close my eyes and pretend she's someone else. The second she opens her mouth, I'm reminded what a bitch she is."
Pretend she's someone else? Someone like Cori?
My dad pulls up, and we jump in the truck. Dad and Judson spent the day setting up camp on the mountain where we plan to go trail riding. Luckily it isn't too cold yet, so it should make for a pretty good night ride.
Judson throws some steaks on the grill when we get to camp, and I pull out a map of the ATV park, trying to plan our ride.
"Can you not just go with the flow?" Nash asks. "Everything's gotta be so damn calculated with you."
Judson laughs, nudging my dad, "Sounds familiar."
"Oh, for christ's sake," I huff. "It's not like I'm some control freak."
"You both are," Nash admits.
"There's nothing wrong with us," Dad grins. "Besides being great at everything."
"Cocky much?" Nash laughs.
"Confidence," Dad quips. "Never cocky."
Nash yanks the map from my hand, tossing it into the campfire, "Just fucking wing it," he whispers. "For once."
After dinner, we hop into the buggies and make our way to the trailhead.
Dad and Judson are in one UTV, Nash and I in the other.
We've done the dark ride numerous times, but tonight it feels darker, like the moon is hidden and the stars forgot to shine.
The leaves are still thick on the trees, refusing to fall just yet.
Hell, they've barely turned from green to orange.
We follow behind dad but far enough back that the dust doesn't choke us up. Nash talks to me over the sound of the motor, "Has Avery asked you to Homecoming?"
"No, we kind of broke up. I don't know how that's gonna work out this year."
"What do you mean you broke up?"
"I mean, we're both tired of pretending." I yell, "Has anyone asked you?"
"Is it because of Corinne?" he asks, completely ignoring my question.
"No. It was falling apart long before then, and if you want Cori, you should just say it."
"Like that would make a difference," he scoffs. "We both know who she'd choose."
I try to hide my feelings, "If you say the word Nash, I'll back off."
"So you do like her."
"Of course I like her. She likes you, though. She wants you."
"Yeah right. I've been awful to her. She doesn't want me."
I make the turn, following dad up the mountain, "She saved your ass the other night. She put it all on the line for you."
"But she's sneaking in your room at night," he says. "Not mine."
I think back to every night that she's been in my bed.
"She just wants somewhere she feels safe. That happens to be my bedroom. It would be yours if you'd quit lying to yourself and let her in."
He doesn't respond. Instead, he turns to me with a demanding look in his eye, "Stop. Let me drive."
I slow down, switching seats with him. I instantly regret it when he pushes the gas pedal to the floor, taking the opposite turn from my dad. He hits a trail that is straight up some big rocks and clearly marked black diamond—the most challenging terrain.
"Nash! Stop! We have no service, and Dad went another way. He'll be pissed if he can't find us!"
There is a nothingness behind his eyes as he climbs the hill, the tires slipping on the rocks, "Nash, this is dangerous, just stop."
He continues to ignore me, turning the wheel and strategically making his way inch by inch up the rocks. A few seconds later, I hear the purr of another engine and then my dad's voice.
"Carson, stop! You are going to flip!"
I look to Nash, "Stop, bro. My dad is going to lose his shit if you wreck this thing."
His grip on the wheel tightens, his knuckles turning white. I contemplate hitting him, but that is gonna be hard through a helmet. Instead, I open the metal door and get out. Making sure to slam the door behind me, "Nash, Stop! Just get out!"
He does what he always does and takes it too far.
He hits the gas, pushing the front of the UTV up over a rock and back down the mountain, flipping over at least three times before landing on its top at the bottom.
My dad and Judson rush over as quickly as possible, and I basically slide down the mountain after him.
When I get to the RZR, the seatbelt is holding him upside down, and something has mangled his arm pretty good. I can tell my dad is biting his tongue, but I don't. Not this time.
"Have you lost your mind? What the hell is wrong with you? Te vas a matar. Eres egoísta!"
You’re going to kill yourself. You’re selfish!
He rips his helmet from his head, his hair matted to his forehead, an unfamiliar fire behind his eyes, "Ella es mía."
I am taken aback by him speaking Spanish, but it's something he's been holding onto for a while. Something he's practiced.
She's mine.