Page 30 of A Surefire Love
“The truth is, I don’t—”
Dylan yanked the bag off his brother’s shoulder.
Carter yelled, and Dylan darted off.
“—have to.” Anson muttered the last two words. Smelling alcohol on a student’s breath was enough proof to require Anson to take action.
Dylan swerved around Sydney before ducking behind the van. Carter bowled into her. The pair tumbled to the ground. Carter climbed to his feet as Sydney checked her hands.
Anson jogged over to help her up. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She frowned at Carter.
An object arced over the van and landed with a clank. A second UFO flew after it. Silver and the size of hockey pucks—crushed aluminum cans.
“That’s enough, Dylan,” Anson said.
One last projectile tumbled to the ground and skidded to a stop between Anson and Carter. Anson didn’t need to straighten the can to recognize the beer logo. Carter shifted unsteadily. His friends came up the path, carrying the kayaks. A guide met them and grabbed Carter’s kayak. They followed him to the trailer.
Dylan trotted back, holding the backpack like the spoils of war. “They were drinking! I knew something was up!”
Anson motioned to the vehicle. “Wait in the van, Dylan.”
Sydney touched Anson’s arm in a silent show of support, then accompanied Dylan into the van. Once the doors were shut, Anson walked several yards away. Carter followed without prompting.
His friends tried to get in the van, but Sydney met them at the door and sent them back. They plodded over and stopped behind Carter. Anson recognized one of the boys from basketball tryouts. The girl had attended Branching Out with Carter last Sunday. Anson hadn’t met the last two boys—identical twins—until they showed up with permission slips.
“Who wants to tell me what happened?” Anson asked.
Carter kicked the dirt.
Twin One smirked. “If I tell you, will you put in a good word for me with Blaze?”
Dumbfounded, Anson grunted.
The kid pressed a palm to his chest. “I’m eighteen.”
The girl smacked him. “He’s not going to set you up with his girlfriend.”
“Blaze is not my girlfriend.”
“Really? Well, you’re super cute together.” She lifted her phone. “My friend posted a video of your amazing rescue.”
There was a video? Worry wound through his chest, but no video could’ve captured the rush he’d gotten from helping Blaze. He shouldn’t be letting the kids sidetrack him. “If you don’t want to take this opportunity to tell your side of the story, that’s fine. I’ll—”
“At least we were going to recycle and not litter.” Twin Two grinned.
“Is this a game to you?” That was a reaction, not a measured response.
“What are you going to do?” Carter lifted his chin. “Tell us we can’t come back? Without us, you’ll never hit your goal.”
Anger hardened in Anson’s throat. He thought Carter respected him more than that. Maybe it was the alcohol talking. Maybe desperation. Maybe both.
“I’m calling all of your parents.”
Carter stepped closer, shoulders back and arms tense. “My dad will never believe you.”
“He won’t have much of a choice. And you know what else this means, right?”
