Page 110 of Don't Think

Then James suddenly appears beside him, his eyes bloodshot red. He reaches over and gently lifts the headset off Gerald’s ears, placing them over his. The look on his face makes my stomach twist violently.

I stare back at him wide-eyed, because somehow, Iknowsomething’s wrong.

I can feel it.

“What’s going on, James?” I ask, my knees growing weak with every second that stretches on, and he just stares at me like I’m a deer caught in his headlights.

“Jax,” he says quietly. His face falls to the floor while he shakes his head slowly. “There’s… been an accident.”

Overwhelming nausea grips me, freezing me in place until everything clicks.

I rip the headphones off, dropping them to the floor with the metallic clatter?ringing through the booth. Bursting through the door, I sprint toward James, my heart climbing further into my throat with every step.

I grip his shoulders firmly. “What do you mean there’s been an accident? Who was in an accident, James?” I ask frantically, trying to force him to meet my eyes—but he won’t. He just keeps looking away.

He stammers, his eyes scanning the room while his mouth opens and closes like he’s trying to find words. Then another hand lands on my shoulder.

I spin around, only to find Gareth standing there, his eyes as red as James’s.

“Come sit, man,” he pleads, gesturing toward the sofa.

I slowly shake my head while trying to understand, but it’s hard when everyone’s fuckingtiptoeing.

They did the same shit with my mum, and I only wanted to know what happened.

“Will somebody just tell me what the fuck is going on?” I demand, my voice cracking as flashes of my moms face surfaces in my mind.

“Let’s go sit down, Jax,” Casey says cautiously from behind me.

“No! I don’t want to fucking sit down! I want someone to tell me what the fuck is going on!” I snap.

Allie went to breakfast this morning with Nora.

My eyes widen, and I frantically pat my pockets. “Where the hell is my phone?”

Gareth grips my shoulders, pulling me toward the sofa and forces me onto it.

“There was an accident,” he starts, his fingers digging into my arm. “Nora called me a few minutes ago. She said she and Allie were at a light on their way back, and when they went to go through, someone slammed into them.” He pauses, shaking his head slowly.

A single tear escapes, rolling down my cheek and suddenly I can’t breathe.

“She… she said the paramedics got her out quickly, but Allie—” He shakes his head again. “She was still trapped inside when they left. I’m so sorry, Jax.” He rushes the last part out, squeezing my shoulder tighter like it’s the glue holding me together.

But it’s not enough.

My muscles give out, and I collapse forward, my head falling into my hands.

Sobs rack through my body while Gareth slides his arm around me, trying to soothe me—but there’s no soothingthis.

My mind flashes with far too many emotions, too many memories at once. It feels like a nightmare.

First my mum, and now…

My head snaps up, my eyes locking onto Gareth’s.

“Is she still in there?” I ask urgently.

He stammers. “When Nora called, she was already on her way to the hospital. I don’t know—”