Page 58 of Above All Else

“Is that June? Did she say what happened?” Dad’s voice setme back in my seat. “Here, let me talk to her.”

“One second, your father wants to speak with you.”

I gritted my teeth, my molars compressed, my jaw tight. “Hi, Dad.”

“You better explain yourself.”

“Explain what?”

“The cops were all over your home,” my mother said from the background.

“Am I on speaker?”

“Yes. She wants to hear what you have to say for yourself. Honestly, June. I expected better from you.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“The police. Ethan. How could you not say anything?”

My cheeks heated, my breath stuck. “What did the police say?”

Carter glanced at me, worry fixed on his face.

“They said there was an altercation? That youkilledhim.”

A two-ton boulder hit my gut, knocking the wind from my lungs. “They...” I puffed out a breath from pursed lips. “They found him?”

“Of course they found him, Junie. Were you thinking they wouldn’t?”

“I just...” Carter’s hand grabbed mine, and he squeezed it with a reassuring smile. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

I pulled my hand from his.

This is your fault.

I’m going to prison.

The phone jerked out of my hand.

“Mr. and Mrs. Collins. She’s going to have to call you back.”

“Who’s thi—“

He tossed his phone onto the center console. “Are you alright?”

I sucked in a breath as though I’d sat underwater thirty seconds too long. “This is your fault.”

“They’ll take care of it. I promise.”

“You promise?” I lashed out, my fist hitting him square in his muscled shoulder. “My parents think I’m a murderer.”

The car swerved to the left.

Beeeeeep.

Beep, beep.

“Jesus, June. You’re gonna get us killed. Relax.”