Page 98 of Fueled Hate

“It hasn’t been that long,” Willow responds.

“Yes, it has. I’m taking the night off so we can hang out.”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

“What is there to talk about? Just stay at my place tonight.” Parker looks to me. “You don’t mind right?”

“No, of course not,” I respond intently, watching the exchange closely because I can’t pinpoint what’s off.

“See. Sadie won’t mind a night without you there. It’s my turn for a slumber party.” He kisses her neck as she tenses, looking to me.

His turn. She’s at his place more than she’s at ours. “Maybe Dylan and I can stop by, if you don’t mind, Parker.”

“Not at all. The more the merrier.”

Not sure how merry the topic is but here goes. “I kind of have a big favor to ask, but you can say no if it’s too much.”

“Sure,” Parker says.

Willow turns to Parker as she gives me a panicked look. “Don’t you have enough going on already?”

“I can always make time for Sadie.” Parker leans forward, placing a kiss on the tip of Willow’s nose before he turns to me. “Whatcha got?”

“It’s more for Dylan than me.”

“Okay. Is it about his car? I’ve heard that Kyle has already started chopping on it, parting it out.”

“No, that’s not it.” Although it does make me sick to think about the priceless car he’d built with his brother being parted out piece by piece to the highest bidder. But there’s something else more important. “Dylan is Noah’s brother.”

“What?” Parker glances over his shoulder to look where Dylan is paying for our coffees. “Man, that’s insane. I can’t believe he raced at the Dome.”

“He just wants to know about what happened that night. Do you think you could talk to him about it?”

“Sure. But doubt I’ll be much help.”

No. It’s not true. “Why?”

“I wasn’t there.” Parker looks back to me as he grips Willow’s shoulder. “I can’t believe you let him on that strip. This one begged me not to race again after that night.”

Willow’s eyes fall to her books as she uncomfortably shifts in her chair.

It is true. “I thought you didn’t want to race anymore because of that night.”

“Nah. This one didn’t want me back on the track. It was becoming a conflict for me to take bets and participate in the matches, so it worked out for the best.”

“But I thought—”

Willow slams each book shut, shoving them messily into her backpack as she clumsily grabs her things. “I have to go.”

Parker jumps from his chair placing a kiss on her as she quickly walks away. “Is everything okay with her? She seems like something is off.”

Very off. “I don’t know. I’ll talk to her.” I jump up from the table as Dylan has a seat, saying, “I’ll be right back.”

I break out into a full sprint, barely able to catch up to Willow as she drops into the driver’s seat of her car. “Willow, what’s going on?”

“Just drop it. Please.”

“Why?”