Page 20 of Our Darkest Summer

And for a while, I was stupid enough to go along with it. I let him manipulate me for almost a year. Then, last fall, I started my fourth year at college.

One day, I sat in on my old history class during a free period. And that was when I saw her.

She sat in the row in front of me.

Whatever the professor asked, she almost always had an answer. And when she didn’t, I could see the way her shoulders heaved in annoyance. For weeks, I just watched her. I couldn’t tell what it was about her that caught my attention, but I couldn’t seem to look away. She was fascinating.

Then, one day, the class was learning about Ancient Greece, and she started talking about the Seven Sages.

“Sage stood for someone who had attained wisdom in Ancient Greece,” she had said.

I had never had a problem keeping my mouth shut before.

But that day, something changed.

I craved her attention.

I wanted her to notice me as much as I noticed her.

So, I called her out on her answer. It was the first time I had ever noticed her make a mistake.

And it couldn’t have come at a better time.

It was perfect.

And then my father took that away from me too.

My jaw clenched, and my fingers tightened around the envelope. I flipped the paper between my fingers, then placed it down next to the note from yesterday. This letter, addressed to my father, was the reason I was here.

I studied the forms of the letters, their curves, their lines… My brows furrowed.

Interesting.

Now, I just had to figure out why the person trying to lure my father here wanted us gone.

Chapter Eleven

Kinsley

Connor was waitingfor me downstairs with Aaliyah when I stepped out of the guest room, wearing clean clothes. Finally, I felt like a human again, without my skin being sticky. I headed toward the stairs, but Thomas’ white door, made me hesitate. Part of me thought about going back inside, but the other part hated the idea of it. We weren’t—friends anymore, we were strangers in a fresh alliance. If we wanted to work this case together and solve it, we should act professionally. I should’ve never let my feelings take control over my body like that.

I took a deep breath and moved, hurrying down the stairs before I did something I’d regret. Connor was leaning against the kitchen counter, his legs crossed over each other, his eyes fixated on the floor when I reached the bottom of the staircase.

“I saw you two dancing last night.” Aaliyah pointed at him. “Believe me, he was all over you.” She was sitting on the kitchen island facing Connor. Her long braids were arranged in a big bun on the top of her head, complementing her heart-shaped face. “There she is.” She grinned, noticing me, and I walked closer, taking my place on Connor’s side. “I was just telling him that he has nothing to worry about,” she said, and Connor rolled his eyesas he looked down at me, but there was a light blush coming onto his cheeks.

“Were you talking about Kevin Miller by any chance?” I asked, and Aaliyah excitedly nodded. “Then I don’t think Connor needs reassurance after last night…” I beamed, and she gasped with a dramatic edge.

“Kinsley!” Connor yelped, sliding his palm in front of my mouth.

“What happened?” Aaliyah leaned ahead, a smile pulling on her lips.

“Nothing,” Connor answered, sparing me a silencing glare.

“Come on. Tell me,” Aaliyah urged, and Connor sighed, chewing on his bottom lip. He gave me another look and then pulled his hand away.

“We may have made out,” he blurted, and Aaliyah shrieked.

“May have?” I lifted a taunting brow at him.