Jillian glanced at me. “What about Dyson?”

I looked back at her. “What about him?”

“Well, I mean, you are going to tell him about this, aren’t you?”

I frowned at her and shook my head. “No, absolutely not. What makes you think I would?”

Jillian groaned. “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t. He can help you.”

“Jillian, how can Dyson help me? We aren’t together, and this isn’t his problem. I can figure this out and handle Gene on my own.”

Jillian looked away from me and exhaled.

“Look,” I began, reaching toward her and placing my hand on her knee. “I’m almost positive Gene is bluffing just to get the cash.”

She turned her head and looked at me once more. “What if he isn’t? What if he comes here and takes Simon away from us?”

I shook my head with a series of vigorous snaps. “That’s never going to happen. Okay?”

Like she always did when thinking, Jillian raised her hand to her mouth and picked at her lower teeth with her thumb nail.

While she sat there in silence, I continued, “Here’s the thing though—I’ve got to go to Los Angeles for the next race tomorrow. That means I can’t be here if Gene does decide to try something crazy.”

Jillian shook her head and dropped her hand away from her mouth. “I won’t let anything happen. If I have to, I’ll take Simon to stay at Dan’s house. I can promise you I won’t let Gene just come and take Simon away when you’re not here.”

I nodded, swallowing in relief. “Thank you.”

I reached for my best friend and we hugged for several seconds.

“Ava, I don’t understand why you won’t just talk to Dyson about it. He’s a decent guy.”

I stood from the mattress and rested my hands on my lower back, just above my waist. I turned and looked down at her. “I know he is. But, this isn’t his problem.”

“Okay, well, if you don’t tell him, then what are you going to do?”

I shook my head. “At this point, I don’t know. I just need a little time to think.”

Jillian nodded and stood from the bed once again. “I hope you change your mind about Dyson. But like I said, you won’t have to worry about Simon while you’re in Los Angeles. I promise.”

I smiled.

“Do you need anything else?” Jillian asked.

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “I’m going to say goodnight to Simon. Thank you. Thank you for everything.”

Jillian smiled at me. “Of course. Don’t mention it.”

A few minutes later I cracked open the door to Simon’s bedroom. Streaks of faint light from the living room spread across his face. To my surprise, he was awake. I swallowed, wondering if he’d heard any of my conversation with Gene.

“Hey, sweetie… Whatcha doin’?” I began, walking across his room towards him. “Aunt Jillian told me you were sleeping.”

Simon looked up at me, his brown eyes reflecting an ambient glow. “I woke up.”

I reached down and glided my fingers across the top of his head. “Is everything all right?”

He looked away from me and shrugged.

“Scoot over,” I said.

After he moved to the other side of the bed, I slipped under his sheets with him.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

With my head on the pillow, I rolled it towards him. He was looking straight up, towards the ceiling.

“Simon?”

I noticed a lump pass down his throat.

“Are you upset about something?”

He nodded, but continued to stare at the ceiling. I spent the next minute or so trying to pry the answer out of him. We went through a short checklist of things. I asked him about school, homework and his friends. None of those things were on his mind. A sense of dread came over me. With each shake of his head, I grew more certain he’d heard my conversation.

“Well, you know I’m leaving tomorrow, so if you want to talk about it, you need to do it now.”

He turned and looked at me. I noticed the beginnings of tears in his eyes. And then, it dawned on me.

“Oh, honey… Are you upset because I’m going away again?”

He nodded vigorously. Tears streaked down his small cheeks. I reached for Simon, pulling him close.

“Shhh,” I said, leaning in towards him and kissing the top of his head. “I won’t be gone for long.”

He choked down sobs over the next minute or so. I did my best to try and calm him down.

“Do you want me to stay in here with you tonight?”

He squeezed me and nodded his head.

“Okay, but only if you promise to go to sleep,” I said. “Will you do that for me?”

“Yes,” he muttered.

I leaned over and kissed him on top of the head one more time. Holding him close to me, I continue to stroke his hair. Within five minutes, he’d fallen asleep.

As I lay there, I stared up towards the ceiling. I had no idea what the next few days would bring. But no matter what, I’d never give Simon up, not for anything.

Just then, Jillian tapped lightly against the bedroom door. Rolling my head on the pillow, I glanced up in her direction.

“Should I close this?” she whispered, pointing at the door.

I nodded and seconds later the room went dark.

AVA

I arrived in Los Angeles and joined the team. Maybe it was my preoccupation with Gene, or maybe it was the fact I’d gotten to go home for a while, but for some reason, things were better. I didn’t have any of the homesick feelings I experienced in Miami.

Small victories.

Still, I couldn’t deny being distracted. Each night, I’d call home, never one hundred percent sure Simon would be there. Jillian told me she’d spoken with Dan, and he’d agreed to help, if needed. I felt a bit guilty about it since I never particularly cared for their relationship. For now though, I had to take help wherever I could find it, so I told her to thank him for me.

As for Gene, he still hadn’t called me since Austin. With each day that passed, I grew more and more anxious.

Dyson was busy testing and getting the car ready for the race. We’d only seen each other a handful of times. Luckily, I’d been able to camouflage my frazzled state of mind enough, he didn’t grow suspicious.

Or at least, I didn’t think he did.

Even so, I knew it was a matter of time before Gene contacted me again. In fact, I’d just left the team trailer when my cell phone began to vibrate in the pocket of my jeans. I swallowed hard, sliding my hand inside and pulling it out. I flipped it over and saw the ‘Unlisted’ flash on the screen.

I closed my eyes and answered.

“Hey there, sis.”

After a slow blink, I exhaled and leaned against a nearby wall. “What do you want?”

“You already know what I want, Ava. The time has come for you to give it to me.”

I reached up and ran my fingers through my hair, shaking my hand free with a vigorous motion. “You told me I had a month, Gene. It’s hardly been a week. There’s no way I can get you the money right now. None.”

Gene scoffed at my protest. “Plans change. Adapt accordingly.”

“Adapt?” I said, snapping my upper body away from the wall. I began to pace back and forth, taking a series of small steps in each direction. “You can’t just change the deal. I don’t have any money to give you.”

“Did you talk to your boyfriend yet?”

I slid my hand around to the back of my neck and squeezed it tight. “I already told you, he’s not my boyfriend. How many more ways do I need to say the same thing to you?”

Gene ignored me. “I’ll give you one more week to get your shit together. If you don’t, I’ll get the state involved and take the kid from you. Understand?”

Trying to restrain myself from screaming, I dug my fingernails into my neck. “I swear, Gene, if you come anywhere near Simon I’ll…”

Gene interrupted me. “You’ll what, Ava? You think I’m afraid of you? If you try anything, I promise you, I’ll vanish with that kid, and you’ll never hear from him again. Do I make myself clear?”