- 3.
After school, I met Ashley at the coffee shop.
“Does your dad know anyone in the Highway
Patrol?”
I wanted to look into my uncle’s accident.
<
He was an experienced trucker. Why would he
crash into a bridge support on a clear day?
Ashley stared at me. “You think something’s
fishy?”
I didn’t answer.
Uncle Joe was a good guy, always trying to do what’s right, but he always refused money
from my parents.
After he died, Brittany lived with us, in a huge
house, with a driver and a maid.
It was just a hunch, but after seeing her face
during my memorial, I had a feeling.
Ashley said she could help. As soon as she
left, my phone rang.
L
It was Chad.
“Reagan, where are you? We need to talk.”
I didn’t want to see him, but he knew me too
well. He showed up at the coffee shop.
“Reagan, I’m sorry.”
He put my favorite éclair on the table and sat
down. “You know you’re the only one for me.”
I used to fall for this.
Now I laughed. “Holding Brittany, loving me…
impressive, Chad.”
Chad was angry. “I’m just being nice to
Brittany. You’re her cousin! Can’t you just be
a little sympathetic?”
<
“She has doctors for that. Why do I need to
do anything?” I said, “It’s better for both of us
if we break up. I already called the venue and
cancelled the decorations for our engagement
party.”
Chad was shocked. “You’re serious?”
He turned on me. “Reagan, engagement is
serious! You can’t just joke around.”
I guess he wouldn’t believe me.
I always loved him so much. I wanted to go to
Stanford with him and make all our future
plans together.
But not anymore.
“This isn’t a joke.” I said evenly, “It’s over.”
<
Chad yelled, “I don’t agree!”
Before he finished, someone charged into the
coffee shop.
Brittany grabbed a cup of coffee and threw it
on me.
“Bitch!” she screamed.
Before I could react, she stumbled and fell
into Chad’s arms.
Chad tried to protect Brittany and hold me
back.
I looked behind the counter.
The owner gave me an “OK” sign.
<
I smirked.
The owner was a friend. I told him to turn on
the security cameras.
I had Brittany losing it on tape.
I was going to send her to prison or a mental
hospital.
