Page 92 of All That Glitters
“He didn’t do anything.”
“Helen, I know when you’re upset.” There was concern in his voice and in his eyes, but there was also a hint of wariness.
Did he really? Did he know when I was upset? Did anyone? Did my parents know? Or was Ashton the only one who knew and understood anything about me at all?
“Not now.” I tried for a softer, yet placating tone. I really couldn’t go round and round with Hale in the state of mind I was in. “We’ll talk later.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“No. Of course not. Ashton isn’t violent.”
“I don’t know what he’s like anymore. I don’t trust him. He’s not…right.”
“Not right? In the head? Is that what you mean?”
“Yeah. That’s what I mean. He’s not right in the head.”
“Like you, he sustained a concussion, but unlike you, he has nightmares, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, residual pain. Any one of those things might make someone seem a little off, wouldn’t you agree?”
I was surprised at my outburst, especially since I’d done the one thing I promised myself I wouldn’t do. I’d betrayed Ashton’s trust.
“I… I didn’t know.”
“No. You didn’t. You haven’t asked how he is, what he might need someone, a friend for. You’ve just been assuming the worst about him. About me.” But there wasn’t friendship between Ashton and me anymore. I’m not sure there was anything left now. Everything had changed. My head and my heart consisted of nothing but cracks and chaos. I needed some time to think, to figure out what I needed to do, what I should do.
I took a step around Hale. And another. And a couple more before he spoke again.
“How else am I supposed to feel about him? He was my best friend and he hates me for something that we both did. He took the majority of damage from it, but both of us were at fault. Now, my sister is doing God knows what with him…” He stepped off the bottom riser with a huff and tread with heavy footfalls into the living room. I heard the clink of glass on glass.
I took a breath, then descended the stairs after him. Christ… I didn’t want to this.
He had one hand was wrapped around the neck of a bottle while he downed what he’d poured for himself. The bottle of bourbon was his favorite. A small, publicly traded company that had been heavily invested in by our family. There were a number of small, but very lucrative investments the Troye family had made which added to the already impressive investment portfolio. Troye, LTD. had been started by our grandfather and his brother and had been among the first to expand into motorsports marketing. The brand continued to grow under our father to include some products, race teams, and a few individuals, such as Hale.
“I’m sorry,” he said when he turned to face me. “Whatever is going on between you and Ashton… It bothers me and I wish you’d stop seeing him.”
“I’m not seeing him. He just trusts me.”
“He trusts you how? With what?”
“With the things I just told you about and… There’s more, but I can’t… I know it bothers you. I know you’re worried about me, but I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. I’ve been friends with Ashton as long as you have. I can handle him.” If he’d have let me. “But just because something bothers you doesn’t mean I have to stop doing it.”
“Brax said there’s a rumor going around their shop that Leonardo Glitterati is going to replace Ashton next season.”
Please don’t put me in this position. Please don’t make me lie any more than I already have been.
I stayed silent. I wouldn’t confirm or deny anything about what I knew. The racing world at large would find out sooner rather than later… And Ashton needed a chance to talk to his father. Besides, none of this was my story to tell.
“But I don’t think Ash knows yet.”
He does now because it’s not a rumor. I didn’t really know what else to say, what else to add to the stilted conversation considering I hadn’t added anything at all. “Hale… I’m really tired. We can talk later.”
“You’ll just find a reason not to talk then, too.”
“What?”
“You don’t talk to me like you used to.”
“What are you talking about?”
