Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Georgia stops dead in the doorway. Her hand flies to her mouth. “You found it,” she whispers, but it’s loud as she rushes forward. “That’s why you went back?”
Grant stands, sheepish, holding out the bracelet. “Yeah. I, uh... you mentioned you lost it, so I went to go find it. Guess I got lucky.” Grant is always so unfazed and chill. He’s not that at this moment, and that clearly has everything to do with Georgia.
“So you went back at four a.m.?” I ask, my voice hard. “To a fucking murder scene? For a bracelet?” The fuck is wrong with him? He could have run into whoever it was that was lurking around that night.
“Don’t even act like you wouldn’t have done the same thing if it were Madeline’s, Luke.” His expression is one of, Are you fucking kidding me?
Georgia snatches the bracelet from his hand. Her eyes fill with tears. “This was my grandmother’s. She gave it to me before she died.”
“I know,” Grant says, rubbing his neck. “That’s why I went back. I knew what it meant to you.”
“You’re such an idiot,” Georgia says, but she’s smiling through tears. She hits his chest. “You jerk. Why didn’t you tell me you had it?”
“I was going to give it back. That’s how I’ve been...” He stops, that sheepish expression coming back. “That’s how I kept getting you to hang out with me.”
“We searched the library for over an hour!”
“But it was fun, our first date.” He gives her a smirk.
Georgia’s face turns cherry-red. “What? That wasn’t a date.” She rolls her eyes at Grant.
“I added a G charm,” he admits.
Madeline makes a sound beside me—half laugh, half sniff. She’s finding this adorable, while we’re in the middle of murder and mayhem. Tough as hell on the outside, warm sweetness right below the surface.
“What about Paul?” Madeline asks. “Why did you beat his ass?”
“He was running his mouth.” He flicks a glance to Georgia, giving himself away, but I’m not sure Georgia is putting it together.
“Ohhh,” Madeline says.
“What?” Georgia asks confusedly.
I clear my throat. “As touching as this is, we have a problem.”
Grant pulls back from Georgia but keeps her hand. “Curfew. I know. They announced it while I was leaving the station.”
“We are out of time,” Madeline says, checking her phone. “Georgia and I should go.”
“Not happening.”
“No.”
Both Grant and I talk at the same time.
“No way, Buttercup. I’m not leaving your side. Not tonight with everything happening.” I’d crawl out of my skin before sunrise.
“Luke—” Madeline starts.
“No.” I pull out my phone, knowing there is only one way to make this work. “Fuck it. We can stay at my brother’s.”
“Your brother’s?” Georgia’s eyes widen. “The dean’s?”
“His house is on campus. It should count.” I’m making shit up, but I know I can talk my brother into it. I don’t ask him for much, and when I do, he wants to show up for me. I’m already texting Bennett. “He won’t care.”
Bennett texts back: Fine. But you’re all in trouble if anyone finds out.
“Let’s go,” I say, grabbing Madeline’s hand.
We pile into my car. My mind is on one thing: Joey. That little shit is all wrapped up in this. He plays that good guy bullshit. No fucking way he let that shit go with Emily. He was calling her back here. Lured her, not that I’m really thinking about it.
The storm’s already here. We just don’t know where it’ll hit next. Unless I hit it first.
“Are you plotting over there?” Madeline asks. I am, but there other things I need to handle first.
“You need dinner.” She rolls her eyes at me but is smiling.
“Seriously? That’s what you’re worried about with everything that’s going down?” I simply stare at her because she already knows the answer. Her well-being comes first. “You’re ridiculous.” She huffs out, feigning annoyance, but I see the edge of her lip curve up.
The house is dark when we pull up. Bennett’s car isn’t in the driveway; only the light in the kitchen window is on, but it’s always on. He’s likely still at the station or dealing with the board or whatever crisis comes after announcing a teacher’s murder to the whole school and one of the students being taken into custody. I’m sure he’s getting an earful from parents too. The few that care.
“Your brother’s not here?” Madeline asks as we climb out of the car.
“Guess not.” I punch in the code for the door. “Make yourselves at home,” I tell them as we enter the side door into the kitchen. “There is one spare room upstairs.”
“We can—”
“Not happening, Buttercup. You’re with me in my bed.”
“I’m not making my best friend share a room with...” She glances over to Grant. “A man I thought might be a murderer an hour ago.”
“But he’s not,” Luke pushes back.