Page 135 of The Catalyst

“Leave her be. We were busy, andsheinterrupted.”

“Fuck off!”

I jog down the driveway, past Oliver’s car, and right to the truck as a sob falls from my lips. God, I hate this. I don’t want to feel like I’ve just been cheated on, but I can’t help it. Maybe it wouldn’t feel like this if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. If I knew it happened but didn’t witness it…it might not be like a serrated blade slicing open my stomach.

I throw the book on the bench seat, put the key in the ignition, and turn it. The truck roars to life. In the same second as Oliver runs out of the house, I throw the truck in reverse and speed away. I struggle to keep the vehicle straight as I cry.

Even as I leave, it enters my mind that I shouldn’t be driving in my current condition. This is exactly how my dad died. He was freaked out and driving erratically.

My heart pounds, and my lungs scream that something isn’t right, but I don’t stop. Instead, I turn onto the main road and reach the bridge right before the school, where the road becomes two lanes.

My heart stops as I come to the top of the bridge, and the bumps of the median register a moment before I see the slate gray car doing the same less than a second before the crash. My eyes connect with the oceanic eyes of the driver.

Martin?

No…

I get a flash of him being just as freaked out by the collision as I am before my head slams into the steering wheel. My truck starts to spin out and I can’t keep track of where it goes. All I know is the only thing that clears up my pain from earlier is the panic.

My mind flashes to what could’ve happened to my dad when he had his accident. Was he screaming, crying, praying that he got to see me or my mom one last time?

I cry right before another impact happens, and my head slams into the window, shattering instantly.

CHAPTER 54

BETH

Everything is still and reticent for a moment, except for the ringing in my ears. Then, I hear it…screaming. Masculine and feminine tones reach my ears as my eyes slowly open. The world is blurry as I reach my hand up to where my head is throbbing, and wetness connects with my skin. My lids open, and I take in the red covering my fingers. I drop them and blink a few times, realizing the blood on my forehead is dripping on a tilt, heading toward the steering wheel.

“What?” I mumble before everything clears, and a loud scream bellows from my mouth, my fingers clawing to hold onto my seatbelt. The truck is teetering over the fucking bridge. I’m staring at the creek under it, and I can’t hold it together. I feel like I’m not getting any oxygen, and my heart… it doesn’t know whether to stop working altogether or to beat out of my chest.

“Help!” I yell as the tears keep falling, but I don’t know what to do. The walls are closing in.

“Bethany!” someone screams outside the cab, and my nails dig into the woven polyester of the strap holding me in place. “Beth, help is coming!”

Martin?

Oh, thank god he’s okay.

Then, the truck creaks, and the back tires shift. I panic and pull on the emergency brake as I cry harder.

Minutes or even hours pass as the commotion outside gets louder before I hear another scream for me.

“Beth!”

The air in my lungs escapes me as my lip trembles in recognition.

“Ollie?” He’s here? How did he even know about the accident? Did he follow me after I left the house?

My bottom lip trembles as I slam my eyes closed, feeling the truck shift again. A scream of terror rips from my throat, followed by another yell.

“Get in the fucking truck bed! Everyone, now!” Ollie’s voice rings through the air as I look up at the ceiling of the truck.

Is this how I’m going to meet my maker, locked in a steel deathtrap? Nigel gave me his truck to keep me safe, but the only thing I feel is my death creeping up on me.

I never even told Oliver that I’m in love with him. I’ve shoved it down and never let those words leave my mouth.

“I love you.” I try the words out on my tongue, and confessing this calms me. “I love you, Ollie.” More tears fall, but I can breathe easier.

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