Page 134 of My Best Bet

He grinned like this was the biggest delight in the world for him, completely unfazed that I was about to shove him through the fucking wall. “You sure you wanna know?”

“Tell me now,” I demanded in a low growl.

Nothing could’ve prepared me for what came out of his mouth.

My ears rang with shock as I stumbled back. It had to be a trick. Just another sick joke from him. But as my mind sifted through the last couple weeks, a chill ran down my spine.

Andy’s fucking cackles followed me as I pushed out of the Coliseum.

“You don’t believe him, do you?” Johnny asked me, jogging to catch up with me.

I ignored him, because I couldn’t form words. Not until I figured this out.

Crossing the snowy parking lot, my mind was haunted by all the past mistakes– which may not have been mistakes at all.

45.Colt - Tell Me Why

Driving Johnny’s car like a madman, I gunned it through each yellow light as I sped through the city. He kept asking me to pull over and switch with him, but I ignored him. I’d apologize later. I couldn’t fucking think straight until I had this figured out.

Because what Andy said… It couldn’t be true. It just couldn’t. He was fucking with my head just like he fucked with Mer all those years ago. He was a master manipulator. But a little part of me was worried– no,terrified– that he was telling the truth.

I parked like an asshole and left the ignition on while I ran up past the blue hydrangeas and pounded on the large door.

When my mom pulled open the door, the smile dropped off her face and confusion set in. “Why aren’t you with your team in Florida? The game is tonight at 7.”

My chest tightened. There’s no way Andy was telling the truth. This wasmy momwe were talking about. The woman who raised me, who took me to every single hockey practice, clinic, and game as a kid.

But I still had to ask, just to quiet the worried voices in my head. “It wasn’t you, right? You didn’t do it, right?”

“Do it?” She laughed and a hand fluttered to her chest. “Do what? Is Lucy alright?” Her head cocked to the side. “I overreacted the other night. I guess I’m just not used to dealing with a child refusing to eat. You never did that to me, so I didn't know how to handle it. You were such a perfect little boy.”

“Mer,” I forced out.

“Mer? What happened to Mer?” Her forehead creased and she reached a hand up to my forehead. “Are you feeling alright, honey?”

“Mer was in a car accident,” I said.

I watched the corner of her mouth curve up just the slightest before she frowned, and I instantly knew. My stomach lurched and I had to hold onto the doorframe to stay standing.

“Oh no, are you alright?” she asked, looking alarmed now.

I forced myself to look in her eyes when I said the next part. “I was arrested, they think I did it.”

She raised her sharp chin and smirked, almost like she was proud of herself. “Impossible. You were in Florida.”

I swallowed hard. “So that’s why you did it this weekend, huh?”

Her face dropped. She took a step back. “WhyIdid it?”

“Why would you do that, Mom?” My voice cracked.

“Do what?” she snapped.

“You know what I’m talking about,” I said forcefully, even though I felt like the floor was ripped from under me and I was stuck in a free fall.

“I can assure you that I don’t. I didn’t do anything,” she said, looking me up and down defensively.

“You messed with Mer’s car.”

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