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“I’m fine!” he yells.
Caleb wedges his way between us, blocking me from doing anything else. “Let me take care of this,” he says, eyes pleading.
Dad starts to get in, but Caleb pulls him back.
“You really shouldn’t be driving right now,” Caleb says. His voice is calm.
Dad swings his arm. “Leave me alone!”
Caleb dodges the blow but doesn’t let go of Dad. He tugs on him harder, forcing him out of the car. “You’re drunk. You can’t drive.”
Dad stumbles back, leaning on the car to stabilize himself. “I’m not drunk.”
Everything moves in slow motion.
Caleb slams the door and blocks Dad from being able to reach the handle.
Dad grabs Caleb by the arm and tries to pull him away.
Caleb wrestles with Dad, blocking every attempt to grab the door handle until Dad has enough. He grabs Caleb by the collar and shoves him back with the full force of his body.
A crack ripples through the air as the back of Caleb’s head hits the car mirror. He crumples to the ground.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
I scream,rushing to Caleb’s side as he doubles over, holding his head in his hands. I follow his hand with my own and warm blood covers my fingers. “No, no, no . . .”
The color in his face is draining.
I cup his face in my hands, tears pouring even more as flashbacks of Ethan fill my mind. “Caleb, look at me. You have to look at me!”
Jordy rushes to my side. “Caleb!”
Blood drips down, droplets hitting the pavement.
My breath goes ragged. “Jordy, get help.”
“I’m okay,” Caleb says.
I move his hands away, trying to see his face. “Look at me. Please,” I beg.
His eyes find me, but they’re dropping and unfocused, framed by his grimacing face. “Really, I’m fine.” He tries to stand, but he sways to the side, almost falling over.
I reach out to steady him. He falls into me. I grip his jacket with all my strength, weaving my fingers into the fabric. I’m drowning in fear. My lungs burn and my eyes are raw from tears.
I catch Jordy in my peripheral. “Why are you just standing there?” I yell.
He’s motionless, frozen. His hand clutches his chest, and his breathing is fast.
I glare at Jordy. “Don’t you see the blood? Go get help!”
Tears stream down his face, and he starts to shake. “I—I can’t.”
“Can’t you do anything right?” I scream.
His face falls, betrayal coating his eyes.
It was the wrong thing to say. It’ll only make him spiral, but I don’t have time to fix it.
