Page 4 of Chasing Shadows

“You’re okay with Ivy being with him?”

“If she’s happy, then yeah, I am. People can change, Harley. If she wants to be with him, I’m going to support her.” He sighs. “I know things are going to be weird with him being your–”

“Don’t say it,” I grunt out.

“So, you’re thinking about ending it with Ellie then?” he says instead.

I close my eyes and rub at the pain in my chest. I’ve beengoing back and forth over this exact scenario for the last three weeks when I’m not trying to ignore my problems at the bottom of a bottle. I love her. But I don’t think it’s enough. Both of us being related to Conrad is too much for me. This messed up situation that her mum and my dad caused twenty-three years ago has ruined everything.

“I think I have to, man. It’s too close to home. We’re practically related, even if it’s not by blood, and I don’t think I can get past it.”

Lachy sighs. “I get it. It’s a lot. Just make sure you talk to her. You owe her that.”

“I will.”

“I’m here for you, man. Whatever you need.”

“Thanks.”

“Good luck.”

“Yep.”

I hang up the phone and lay back on the bed. I know I’m probably not going to get too much sleep tonight, but I need to try. It’s too dangerous to be riding my bike on lack of sleep.

PULLING MY DUCATI Panigale V2 into the driveway of my childhood home the next evening, I’m relieved to see Dad’s car is not there. I know Tom told me he’d gone to work in Brisbane for a few months for one of his mate’strucking companies, but something inside me didn’t believe that they weren’t both going to be waiting here to blindside me.

The house is dark when I let myself in, dropping the overnight bag full of clothes I bought while staying in Sydney next to my bed before collapsing onto it. When I’d taken off after my run-in with Dad, I had no idea where I was going. I just got on my bike and rode. By the time I stopped near Newcastle and turned my phone on, I had missed calls from all my friends, including Lachy and Elijah. Realising how close I was to Sydney; I made the decision to go hide out with my cousin.

I swallow a couple of painkillers to help with my throbbing dick, cursing my decision to get it pierced–I wanted to feel pain, but this is next fucking level. Elijah tried to warn me that seven and a half hours on my bike wasn’t a smart idea, but I didn’t listen to him. I’ve just closed my eyes when my phone rings. I roll over with a groan and pick it up from where I tossed it on my bed.

It’s Brady.

“Hey,” I grunt out.

“Will you look at that? Heisalive,” he quips.

“Har har,” I say, rolling my eyes even though he can’t see me. “What’s up?”

“Where are you?”

“Home.”

“Blue Haven?”

“That’s where I live last time I checked.”

He snorts. “Yeah right, smartass. You’ve been MIA for three weeks, so forgive me for checking.”

“Get your ass over here,puttana!” Jordan shouts in the background.

“Maybe next time,” I say. “I’ve been on the road for almost eight hours. I’m just going to shower and go to bed.”

“No way, asshole,” Brady replies. “You either get your ass over here, or we’ll come to you.”

“Seriously, man. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”

“Uh uh, no way.” Jordan grabs the phone off Brady. “We let you sulk for three weeks; now you’re going to come over and talk to us. Let Uncle Jordan and Uncle Brady psychoanalyse and fix you.”

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