Page 84 of Under the Influence

"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!