All the Little Secrets (English Prep 2)

Christian asked, “Do you know what you’re doing, Ol?”

Ollie nodded confidently. He pulled out his phone and slapped it into my hand as someone called his name. “Hold on to my phone for me. My dad is going to be calling shortly.”

“Ollie!” I demanded again, begging him to look me in the eye. He wouldn’t. He was avoiding my gaze, and I could tell it was hurting him.

“Ollie.” Hayley left Christian and walked to stand beside me. “Seriously, do you know what you’re doing? Tank is not someone you should mess with. Trust me on this.”

Ollie’s hand slowly fell out of mine. “I know exactly what type of person he is.”

“Ollie,” I urged again, beginning to feel defeated.

Instead of looking at me, he looked right past my head. “Eric, you know what to do?”

“I got you.” I craned my neck back and saw him standing behind me.

When I turned back around, Ollie finally met my eye for a quick second, but then he squeezed his eyes shut and quickly turned around and began heading to his car.

No!

I refused to let him do something that was clearly hurting him. I didn’t care about the consequences at this point.

His phone was clutched in my hand when I reached him. I threw my arms around his back and buried my head in his shirt.

“Stop whatever you’re about to do, Ollie.” My voice was near breaking, and his entire body tightened.

“Ollie, you’re up!” someone yelled from a distance.

Ollie turned around in my grasp and hugged me tight. When he wrapped his hand around my face, pressing it to his chest, I could hear his heartbeat. It was hard and fast as it echoed through my ears.

“I love you. Just remember that.” He bent down and kissed my forehead and peeled me away from his body. “Go. Now.”

Anger sliced through me. “No. I am not leaving.”

Ollie groaned, tightening his jaw again. The muscles were jumping back and forth along his temples. He eyed someone from behind before landing back on me. I felt doom approaching. “Don’t make a scene, Piper. Please.” He was all but begging me. “I need you to trust me.”

I do. I do trust you.

Christian appeared at my side along with Hayley. They didn’t move a muscle as we all watched Ollie walk to his Charger. My stomach fell to the ground with a thud. I turned and spotted Jason several yards away. Eric was now standing beside him. What the hell is going on?

“Why is Tank getting in Ollie’s car?” I snapped my attention back to the Charger. Ollie’s arm was hanging out of the driver’s side as he threw his head back and laughed at something Tank said—as if everything was fine.

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

Ollie’s phone vibrated in my hand. I saw several incoming texts from his father.

I swiped open the screen and read the conversation.

Ollie: I know you know I know.

Dad: Which is why I’ve been trying to talk to you for over a week.

Ollie: So it’s true…you’re not my real father.

Dad: I’m just as much your dad as I am Christian’s, no matter what.

Ollie: I just need to know something.

Dad: Ollie. I’m on my way home. We need to sit down and talk this through.