Page 92 of The Toy Maker

Ethan was the first to come up with something, “You were falling for it, weren’t you?”

I couldn’t tell him the truth. “That’s ridiculous.”

He didn’t argue. Just sighed, kissed my cheek gently, and whispered, “Be careful, Tara.” Ethan glanced inside before turning to leave. “I’ll see you around.”

I watched him walk off as I hid behind the side of the door where I could live in denial, where what Ethan said couldn’t be true.

But hiding never did anyone any favors, so I pulled my wits together and let the door slam behind me.

THIRTY-THREE

I’ve never beenone to listen to gossip. People lie all the time. Whether it’s out of anger, jealousy, or just plain bitchiness, someone’s pants were always on fire.

It was a truth I had long accepted, so when I got back from my rendezvous with Ethan, I had no idea what to believe anymore.

“Tara,” Kitty snapped me back to reality. Her light pink hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, and a Queenwood University t-shirt swallowed her figure. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Her tone set alarm bells off in my head; the usual chipper southern accent seemed cold and distant. I approached the table where she was signing papers and waited for her to address me.

A flicker of unease crawled down my spine.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, she looked up at me. “Your shift started half an hour ago.”

I blinked, glancing around as if hidden cameras were going to pop out at any second.Was this a prank?Kitty was never the type to reprimand us for running late, especially me. “I’m sorry, I jus?—”

“Did I ask where you were?” Kitty snapped. I pulled away from the desk and tried not to wear my heart on my sleeve.

“Is this because I left you guys last night?”

“No, it’s because you’re late.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Sarah was two hours late last week, and it didn’t bother you then.”

“Sarah had her reasons.”

I frowned. “So do I.”

Kitty scoffed, like I was just some inconvenience she was being forced to deal with. “Whatever. Just don’t let it happen again.”

“Kitty, I?—”

“Just go change. Rehearsals start in ten.” She waved me off.

I hesitated, waiting for her to drop whatever this was, to flash a smile and tell me she was messing with me. But she didn’t.

I turned away, walking toward the dressing rooms with a weight settling in my chest. I had never been good at friendships, and moments like this reminded me why.

I debated quitting and finding a job in my actual field.

This had always been Jason’s world, and I was starting to feel like I was losing myself in it.

But then I thought about Jade and Sarah, and the way they made me feel like I belonged with them. I didn’t want to give that up.

Besides, I wasn’t sure I even had to. Ethan could have been trying to scare me. Why? I didn’t know. And as for everyone else acting weird, I considered the possibility of a toxic poison seeping into Jason and Kitty’s brains from the Pink Cherrie pipes, but with no evidence, I couldn’t come to a conclusion.

I grabbed the cheerleader outfit off my vanity and got dressed for the big number. The other Cherries bustled around me, painting themselves into different versions of who they had to be for the night. I did the same, dusting my cheekbones withhighlighter until they gleamed and swiping on a shade of red lipstick so bold it barely looked like me.

Jade snorted as she took one look at me. “Carried away much?”