Page 87 of We Drank the Dawn

“No, it can’t.” I thrust my phone toward his face. “Tell me who’s in it.”

Cooper took the phone and silence fell as he studied it. “It’s Sarah and one of your sisters sitting on a motorcycle.”

“Which sister?”

“I can’t remember her name. The bitchy one.”

“Oh. Jackie?”

“Yeah.”

“Where are they?”

Cooper sighed in annoyance. “I don’t know, man. A driveway, maybe?”

“There’s no guy?”

“In the picture?”

“Yes! In the picture.”

He paused to look again. “Wait a second.”

My stomach dropped to my knees and my voice went breathless. “What?”

“There is a guy.”

“Really?”

“He’s got his arms wrapped around Sarah.” His chuckle gave his lie away and sent a fresh bolt of anger skittering through my veins. This wasn’t a joke. I pawed at the air for my phone, obviously missing as he laughed harder and smacked it, screen first, into my sternum.

“Chill, man. She’s just having fun.”

With that, he walked away toward the next chore.

THIRTY

Peter

Islammed the door of the truck, resisting the urge to yell in frustration. I fumbled for my seat belt as warm air hit my face, drawing sweat beads to my forehead. The last place on earth I wanted to go was Austin, but, once again, I had no choice. Cooper needed someone to go with him, and since Jesse, Rudy, and Tag were going to be out of town and Harlan and Cody had actual duties, I was the chosen one.

Day three of hell on earth and I was being dragged all the way to Austin with Cooper, of all people. A deep sigh made my chest ache as I waited for him to finish loading the trailer.

To make things worse, we had to share a tent.

A tent.

The driver’s door swung open and Cooper hopped inside, the stale scent of cigarettes clinging to his clothes. I wrinkled my nose in disgust and turned my face toward the window.

“You ready?”

Wordlessly, I waved down at the seat belt buckled around my waist. Duh.

Cooper snorted and the gear stick gave a few low knocks as he pulled it down and into reverse. His chuckle sounded more like resentment than humor. “You’re gonna be loads of fun, aren’t you?”

“Depends on what you consider fun.”

“I was being sarcastic.”