52

OLIVIA

I flinch when Aiden slams his fist on the steering wheel. That must have hurt.

“ Are you deaf?” Aiden barks, his voice raised and sharp.

I arch an eyebrow. What is with the sudden change in his tone? Is he messing around with me or what?

But, the look in his eyes tells me he is not playing around. There is something going on with him. Something serious.

I try to speak, but I can't find the right words. My voice catches in my throat. It seems like the right words are not in my head anymore.

I just sit there, staring at him while his gaze still remains fixed straight ahead, not on the rearview mirror, but out the windshield.

Aiden's head falls back to the steering wheel, and he clenches his fists on his thighs.

I close my eyes, trying to piece together everything that has happened that day involving Aiden.

I had called him and asked for a ride, and he had agreed. His tone and demeanor at the time were a far cry from what they are now.

He had driven to my house. He had even fl