Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)

WHEN I get home from Lisa’s, I’m desperate to escape these thoughts of Emma Erickson. I know just the way to do it, too. I walk into my dark and empty house, flipping on the lamp, and head straight to my hall closet. I open the door to retrieve the cardboard file box I keep hidden away on the top shelf. I’m the only one who knows it’s there, but that doesn’t mean I don’t pull it out almost daily. Living alone has its perks sometimes.

I carry the box to my kitchen table and follow the same sick routine I always do. After pulling off the lid, I begin my nightly investigation. Laying each picture of the wreck out in front of me, I scan every single image. I’ve looked at them so many times over the last few years that I could probably draw them from memory. I can’t even begin to tell you how many hours I’ve spent reading and rereading witness statements from that night. I have them memorized at this point, but that doesn’t stop me from poring over them, wishing and praying the answers will somehow jump from the page.

Even though the wreck that stole Manda from me was almost five years ago, my need to know what happened that night is still as strong as it was the night I vowed to never stop searching.





“CALEB!” I hear wailed from outside my door. “Caleb, please open up.” I immediately recognize the voice as Sarah’s. Her tone softens as she begins to beg and, if I’m not mistaken, cry. “Please.” I hear a loud thunk that I can only imagine is her head dropping against the door.

I pause for a second, trying to make sure I’m fully awake before opening the door. I don’t need to face this situation with a groggy head. I scrub my face and glance round the room. My eyes land on the small potted violet on my end table in the corner. I stare at it for a minute, remembering why it’s there and losing my breath in the process. The guys at the station all chipped in and sent me that ridiculous flower the day of the funeral. I’m sure Dana, the receptionist, ordered it. None of them had any clue how much Manda hated the color purple. Oh yeah, I need to go back to bed. This is all too fucking real. My Manda is still gone.

I can’t help that I immediately flash to Manda’s face as I kissed her goodbye that horrific night. She had a bright smile and shining green eyes. She was clinging to my leg under the table when Brett announced that we had to leave. When I look back, it’s as if she were subconsciously trying to keep me with her. The permanent knife in my gut twists just a little deeper at that thought. Not a minute has passed in those three months since the accident where I haven’t imagined the ‘what if I had stayed’ scenario. But I didn’t, and that one decision cost Manda her entire life.

There are a lot of things I would change about that night, and all of them would leave my fiancée laughing beside me. Manda and I fought a lot, including on the way to Westies that night. Looking back, I realize that it was a stupid argument, but I would live it on loop for the rest of my life if it meant I just got to keep her.

“Caleb, I…” Sarah sobs against the door, reminding me all over again that this is my reality. Anger courses through my veins as I stomp toward the door, desperate to release my grief on someone else.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I snatch open the door.

Sarah stumbles inside like a drunk on heels. I watch her crash to the ground. I almost reach out to catch her, but at the last second, I pull my hands away.

“Shit,” she says, standing back up on shaky legs. I don’t even offer a helpful hand. I just stand there and watch her struggle.

“What the hell do you want?” I slam the door, narrowly missing her body.

“Do you have Manda’s necklace?” she asks, rocking me back on my heels.

She didn’t come here to talk or to apologize for stealing my entire life. No, she came here for a fucking cheap-ass necklace that they got on vacation. It’s one of those cheesy heart “best friends” necklaces. She and Manda both had half, and neither one of them ever took it off. My already boiling blood makes my cruel words come even quicker than I would have thought.

“You fucking bitch! You have some serious balls to show up at my door asking for anything!”

“I don’t feel her anymore,” she whimpers, dropping back to her knees. “I just… Please, I need to feel her.”

“Guess what, Sarah? I don’t feel her either. That’s because she isn’t fucking here anymore. She gone, and you want to know why?”

She expects my answer and quickly looks up at me with sad eyes. “I wasn’t driving,” she whispers.

“Yes, you fucking were! Own it!” I scream at the top of my lungs.

“Caleb, please. I love her. I would never knowingly hurt Manda.”