Page 209 of Override

Then, with complete seriousness, he asks, "I thought family was who you called to bail you out of jail after another traffic violation."

There's a beat of silence. Wheels starts laughing. "That too."

"You still owe Matt money."

"I do not."

"He paid your bond."

"I paid him back."

"You bought him a steak."

"It was a really good steak."

"Those things aren't equivalent."

"Depends on the steak."

Keaton hangs up.

I stare at him. "You didn't say goodbye."

"He knows."

"You also didn't wait for him."

"No."

"He said he wanted to come with us."

"I'm aware."

"Because you're family."

His jaw tightens slightly. I don't know if anyone else would notice. I'm starting to.

"He'll be fine."

I look at the side mirror. "Do you think he'll follow us?"

"Almost certainly."

I smile.

Twenty minutes later, as the gates of my parents' estate come into view, I desperately wish we'd waited for him.

Every bit of warmth disappears from my body. I sit straighter in the passenger seat. The sweatshirt suddenly feels too heavy. Too warm. My fingers curl into the cuffs.

Keaton notices. He doesn't say anything.

The SUV slows as we approach the gate, and I stare through the windshield at the stone walls surrounding the property where I grew up.

Home. The word feels strange now. The guard at the gate looks into the vehicle.

His eyes land on me. His entire expression changes. He says something into his radio before the gates begin opening.

My stomach twists. "Keaton."