Page 189 of Tell Me I'm Enough

“I need you to cut the crap, Mason, and take this seriously.”

“I am!” I snap. “My friend is currently in surgery! Sorry if I’m a little more worried about him being okay than a damn sport or school!”

“And I’m stuck having to contact people I shouldn’t have to use to get your ass off a reckless driving charge! You’re lucky you didn’t kill anyone!”

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to calm myself, tryingnotto think about whether that’s actually true or not. We still don’t know Tank’s state yet.

Before I can respond back to him, there’s a knock on the door. Two police officers walk in, all calm and professional. One older, one younger. The older one gives me a look of disappointment, and it makes my stomach drop.

“Mr. Sinclair?” he asks.

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Mind if we ask you a few questions?”

I hear my dad’s voice get sharper over the phone. “Who’s that?”

“The police,” I say quietly.

“Put me on speaker.”

I don’t want to. I really,reallydon’t want to.

But I do.

The officer glances at my phone, then at me. I give him a small nod.

“Yes, sir,” the officer says once my dad’s voice fills the room. “This is Officer Reynolds.”

My dad switches up his tone, making it smooth and professional now. The voice he uses when he needs to fix something or get his way.

“Officer,” my dad says smoothly. “I understand there was an accident involving my son.”

“Yes, sir. We’ve completed the initial assessment,” Reynolds replies. “The other driver was confirmed to be traveling approximately thirty miles per hour over the posted speed limit. However…your son failed to stop at a stop sign, and…his blood alcohol level was also brought to our attention.”

I squeeze my eyes shut.

“What was it?”my dad asks, more irritated now.

The officer hesitates. “Point one-zero.”

That’s when my dad exhales sharply, not even surprised, just annoyed that this is something else he has to deal with.

“Christ,” he mutters. Then, to the officer,“I assume this complicates things.”

“It does,” Reynolds says carefully. “We’ll be filing a report. Once he’s medically cleared, he’ll be transported for booking. Given the circumstances, he’ll be charged with Operating Under the Influence, and depending on the status of the passenger after surgery, we may be looking at additional felony counts for serious bodily injury.”

The emotions instantly rise in my throat, making the tears threaten to fall. But I hold them back, knowing I have to right now.

I hear a huff on the other side of the phone from my dad.“Okay, thanks. I’ll be reaching out to my lawyers here soon to get this all straightened out.”

AKA make it like it never happened.

I shake my head, so annoyed with his arrogance.

They leave quietly after that, telling me they will have someone stationed at the door at all times until I’m taken intocustody, which my dad is adamant about having this cleared up before he lets that happen.

I’m still holding the phone when I notice her. Simone stands there frozen in the doorway, hearing everything that was just said. And I can see the disappointment in her eyes. They probably reflect mine and everyone else’s around me.