Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Josie looks back at me through the rearview mirror. “Colton, talk some sense into your brother.”
“Cole is right,” I finally say, “stop on the side of the road. I’ll call Sienna and have her come and pick us up.”
“Oh c’mon. I thought you were the fun twin, Colton,” she practically croons.
“Josie!” Cole bellows. “NO!”
Before I can process what’s happening, I hear her horrified screams.
My brother calling out his girlfriend’s name in panic. The screech of tires. The feeling of being airborne. The sound of crushing glass and the distinct cracking of bones breaking.
Cole says my name. I have a vision of him reaching out to me.
Pain comes next…
Before the world goes black.
Cole didn’t want to go to the party. But after Maddox bailed on me at the last minute, I convinced Cole to go. Then Josie joined us, because she never says no to a party.
Now I wish we had never sneaked out.
This is my fault.
It’s my fault Josie is dead.
It’s my fault Cole is now in critical condition.
And what if he doesn’t make it?
No.
No, that can’t happen.
He’s my twin. I can’t lose him.
I can’t…lose him.
Cole always has my back. Maddox is my best friend, but Cole…he knows me. I thought it was always annoying how he could so easily read my every thought, but it’s a gift as much as it’s a curse.
They say every twin comes as a pair – an angel and a devil.
Cole is the good one. The mature, smart and responsible twin.
He has a possible football career ahead of him. Cole is a fucking genius.
I’m the fuck-up. The mistake, and the one that should have never happened. My father reminds me of that every chance he gets. Not that he loves Cole more. He’s not an affectionate or loving father to either of us. In fact, he’s a father by title only.
But he tolerates Cole more than me.
If someone has to die tonight, it needs to be me.
A hand cups my cheek, hurling me out of my thoughts. “I think you’re going to need stitches,” Sienna says, her fingers brushing along my hairline. Just below the bleeding gash. “You might have a concussion too. I’ll have the doctor check on you.”
“What about—
“He’s in surgery right now.”
“Will he be fine?” I choke out the question.
“I don’t know.” Sienna sits down next to me and grips my hand in hers. Her hand is cold and clammy. She has never been very touchy. In fact, we’re not close to Sienna. It’s weird having a stepmother who is half the age of your father, and barely ten years older than you. “What were you guys thinking?”
I can hear the incredulous judgment in her voice, but I don’t respond. There’s something else gnawing at me. Something more important than the gash on my head and the possible concussion. “What about the other person?”
I don’t have to elaborate because Sienna knows who I’m referring to. The other driver.
She’s silent for a second, and my blood rushes between my ears. “He didn’t make it,” Sienna whispers, her voice slightly trembling.
The floor sways underneath me, and I’m glad I’m sitting down, or else I’d be flat on my ass on the ground. The throbbing in the back of my skull intensifies. The ache is acute and my body tenses as another spasm of pain wracks through my bruised body.
Guilt and regret.
I never thought guilt would be such a heavy burden to bear, but it feeds on itself. Guilt is ugly, regret is And it grows heavier and heavier.
Two people are dead tonight.
Because of one wrong decision.
All it took was a fraction of a second — that’s how fast our lives can change.
“You’re lucky you called me instead of nine-one-one,” Sienna continues. “Josie was drunk. You and Cole had both been drinking too. I was able to get you and Cole out of there before the cops got to the scene.”
For the first time in my life, real fear crawls through my veins. A bullet of panic rises in my throat as I run a hand over my face. “Are we in trouble?”
“You and Cole were not driving, so I don’t think you’ll be in any trouble. But there’s underage drinking in this scenario. And you knowingly got in the car with Josie while she was drunk. You could be charged with gross negligence or reckless disregard of others’ safety. But, then again, you are minors. So you might get away with this. It just depends on how this goes in court.” She shakes her head, her eyes darkening. “But I’m not worried about any of this right now.”
“What?”
She tsks, her expression reproachful. “Do you realize the scandal that would have happened to our family if you and Cole had been found at the scene of the accident?” Sienna quibbles. “Your father—
“Would have probably killed us, even if we had survived the accident.”