Page 26

“I’ve spoken to the police and McKenzie’s lawyer, and they say that it’s pretty much an iron-clad case against Paul,” my brother said.

“I really appreciate that you’ve been helping me with this, Charlie.” I stuck my phone between my ear and shoulder as I got out of the car. “And that you referred McKenzie to one of your contacts here.”

“That’s why you have a brother who’s a lawyer,” he joked, but then his voice sobered. “I’m glad that you called me, Sam. I know we don’t talk much, but I care about you, so I want to help.”

I hefted the jacket and scarf in my arms a little higher, trying to come up with a response. Come to think of it, when I had a problem, I didn’t tend to call Charlie … or anyone else. I usually wracked my brain until I found a solution, or otherwise, just sucked it up. It was always easier not to inconvenience people.

“Well, I really appreciate it.”

“Of course, Sam.” There was a sliver of hesitation in his voice when he asked, “You having a good day, then?”

I let my eyes travel over Emmanuelle’s beach house. Standing in the driveway, I could spy movement behind the lit windows, but the curtains obscured my view. Just thinking about seeing her again sped up my pulse.

“It’s about to get a whole lot better,” I revealed to my brother, thinking it sweet that he lingered just to ask me about my day.

He wished me a good evening, and we hung up. I walked to the door with my stomach churning, but I was happy at the same time. Finally, she was back. Finally. Trying to sort through the myriad feelings was useless anyway, so I just rang the doorbell. When Emmanuelle opened the door, it was like the sun peeking through the clouds.

“I didn’t expect you,” she said, but dimpling cheeks replaced her surprise as her eyes roved over me. “But I’m very happy to see you.”

“Am I disturbing you?”

“No, not at all. I do have company, though.” So if I wanted to talk, it would have to wait, her eyes seemed to say. When I went to step over the threshold, she stopped me with a hand on my chest. “Let me have a look at that.”

Warm, gentle hands reached up and leaned my head to the side, so she could examine the bruise. It had faded considerably in the last few days, and I was glad it didn’t require copious amounts of makeup anymore.

“It looks much better,” she said with relief.

Inside, Remi, McKenzie, and Lauren were busily appraising each other in a game of poker. I was quite happy that I’d missed the beginning of it, mostly because I was pretty crap at subterfuge. With my arrival, Emmanuelle begged out of the game, and I felt rather smug that she would rather sit close to me on the couch.

Every now and then, witty remarks flew back and forth between the players and, amidst it all, I managed to feel right at home. I was sure that Emmanuelle enjoyed living close to McKenzie for the moment and also how long Remi was visiting, even if she complained about his antics. It was clear they loved each other, though I also understood that he preferred staying in a hotel to have his own space.

We ordered pizza after Lauren pretty much cleaned everyone out, and it was nice to see how relaxed they all seemed. The exhibit was done, and McKenzie didn’t have to worry about her crazy ex anymore. I guessed things were looking up. I even found the courage to fill Emmanuelle in on the unfortunate situation at school, to which she had quite a few choice words to say.

It was past ten when my phone rang. Frowning, I got it out of my pocket, wondering at the unknown number on the screen. I took a few steps towards the window and picked up.

“Hello?”

“Ms Hale?”

Lacie’s voice nearly made my jaw crash to the floor. “How on earth did you get this number? Do you know how late it is?”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, and I’m sorry, but I promise it’s important. Can you come to the school?”

“Come to the school?”

Remi and the others had fallen silent at my tone.

“Yes. I swear I’m not trying to pull anything weird, but I did some digging and … well, it’s best to do this in person. Please, meet me at the gate. Soon as you can.” And she hung up.

I stared at the phone as if it had just announced Ariana Grande was the new messiah and we would all live off cottage cheese for the rest of time. Driving to the school in the middle of the night to have a one-on-one conversation with Lacie Lennard, who I still didn’t trust to behave herself, stood about as far up on my to-do list as a root canal treatment. Then my thoughts halted. What if she’d found out something about the anonymous tipper? Could I really ignore this?

With a shake of my head, I turned. Four concerned faces looked at me.

“There’s something I need to go and take care of, I think.” I walked to one of the dining table chairs and picked up my jacket. “Sorry to bail on you so suddenly, but this might be important.”

“You okay?” Emmanuelle asked.

“Yeah, I think so. Again, I’m sorry. I really did have a lot of fun today. Thank you for including me.” My gaze wandered to Emmanuelle, and I tried a smile. “I’ll call you.”

She nodded, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. I felt like a jerk because I was running out on her now. I had waited for this all week. Lacie better had a damned good reason for calling me.

The air was frigid, and I drew the zipper on my jacket all the way up during the walk from the carpark to the school gate. It was already late, no cars or people close by, until I rounded the bend and approached the gate. Lacie Lennard was waiting for me, together with a young man with a black beard and a golden ring in his ear.

The pirate look-alike? What was his name, Pete?

“Hey, Ms Hale. Thanks for coming.”

“What is this exactly?”

Lacie kicked against Pete’s leg. He grunted, the corners of his mouth tightening, but he finally lifted his gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Uh, what?” Seeking help, my eyes flew to Lacie.

“Pete here thought it a great idea to report you to the school after his best friend told him about the lady who got beat up in his uncle’s workshop.”

“Wait a second…” I narrowed my eyes. “That’s right. Vinnie has a nephew who tends to help out.”

“James,” Pete supplied reluctantly. “Yeah, we go way back. He mentioned the fight, and I recognised your name.”

“But I don’t understand. Why would you report me? Didn’t he tell you what a nasty situation that was? That my friend and I were scared witless?”

Pete had the good graces to look ashamed. “I, well…”

“Go on, don’t wuss out now.” The redhead nudged him with her leg again.

“I was pissed about the whole assignment thing, that Omar got to pair with Lacie when I wanted to. But apparently…” He nervously licked his lips after glancing to the side. “It’s not in my power to make decisions for other people, and I have no right to be jealous.”

“And…” Lacie prompted.

“And I’m really sorry that I tried to pull this shit to get you in trouble, Ms Hale. I thought you might catch some crap from the dean, but I didn’t really think that they would suspend you.” His eyes went back to his boots.

This wasn’t at all what I’d expected. I didn’t even know what I felt. Hurt that he had even considered doing something like this, angry at all the stress and anxiety he’d caused or relieved that he’d come to his senses and was apologizing. The latter finally won out, but it was a little touch-and-go there for a few seconds.

“I can’t say that this hasn’t caused me a lot of trouble. You can’t just go about and slander people when you get angry, Pete. Something like this can cost someone a job, and even if the accusations are baseless, it can literally ruin their reputation.” I took a deep breath. “Still, I appreciate that you’re here and that you’re sorry.”

“I really am. I’m gonna go to the dean and rescind my complaint, I promise.” With a beaten side glance at Lacie, he asked if he could go now.

The girl nodded.

Pretty quickly, he said a wooden goodbye and walked off into the night.

I shook my head, still flabbergasted. “How on earth did you find out it was him?”

“Well.” She blew out a breath. “It wasn’t easy, but, for once, my great powers of persuasion were useful for something productive.”

I crossed my arms. “So, you manipulated people to get what you want again?”

Lacie’s eyes widened at my tone, and she took a step back. “I mean … it was for a good cause. And you heard him, he just said he’s gonna go tell the dean…”

“Are you serious? Like actually serious? Tell me you know why Pete would act like this in the first place.”

Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she mumbled something.

“I didn’t hear you,” I prodded her. “Come on, you never have a problem with letting others know about your opinions. Why start now?”

Lacie pressed her lips together. “I was just having some fun. I mean, clearly it was just a bit of teasing and flirting. Like I didn’t mean any of it.”

“That’s not the right answer and you know it. Try again.”

A small eternity seemed to pass while she ground her teeth, staring at the ground while she did so.

My frustration was rising together with her silence before I had an idea. “What did you tell Pete?”

Her head snapped up. “What?”

“To get him to come here and apologise. What did you tell him?”

“What did I tell him?” With a loud snort, she shook her head. “I told him that he was being an asshole. That he wasn’t having an ounce of empathy and acting completely self-absorbed.”

“Whyever that?”

“Well, the only one he was really caring about was himself. Himself and his own wants and feelings.”

I lifted one eyebrow and just looked at her.

Lacie’s mouth fell open. “That’s not … I mean, I wasn’t doing … You’re not seriously saying that I was doing the same thing!”

I remained quiet while she started pacing back and forth, shaking her head again. “He was being an asshole. I’m not an asshole! He hurt others. I’ve never … I mean, I never had the intention … ugh!”

“Did you or did you not string him along?”

“I was clearly not being serious!”

“Did he know that?”

She stopped in her pacing. “Yeah. I mean, I think he did.”

“Are you sure?”

Her posture faltered. “I, well, maybe … maybe, he didn’t realise?”

“I’d say that’s a pretty safe bet.”

The rest of the tension left her body when she slowly lifted her head to meet my eyes. “So, you’re saying all of this happened because I fucked up?”

I sighed. “No, that’s not what I’m saying. However provocative you act, you’re not responsible for other people’s actions. The decision to make that complaint is on Pete. But…” My gaze grew stern. “But that doesn’t give you the right to just play with someone’s feelings.” I looked at her with every ounce of sincerity I could muster. “People are fragile, Lacie. From what you’ve said the other day, you know this.”

“I do know,” she said quietly. “I do know.”

“Not feeling seen, it’s not a nice feeling to have.”

“Yeah, tell me about it,” she muttered but had to chuckle when I rolled my eyes. After, she inhaled a deep breath. “I guess I can see why Pete was so pissed off. Wasn’t really super nice of me. And, uh, I’m sorry for, you know, coming across a bit forward.”

“A bit?”

“Okay, maybe a fair amount. I do understand the word no when I hear it. And I’ve heard it now, loud and clear. And I hear what else you’re saying too. I guess I went too overboard with the whole self-confidence and femme fatale spiel.”

“Thank you.”

The redhead gave me a grin. I hoped Pete the Pirate held his promise and set things right with the dean, but I was strangely grateful that it had led to this conversation.

“I still don’t feel comfortable with you having my phone number.” I narrowed my eyes. “And I kind of don’t want to know how exactly you got it, but keep it. Emergencies only, though.”

Her expression turned angelic, and she swirled in place. “Oh, of course, Ms Hale.” She went to follow Pete into the night but stopped short to turn around. “You know, I only flirted with you because you’re really nice. And cute. Well, of course, it doesn’t hurt that you’re as hot as Taylor Swift in that one music video where she—”

Feeling barely an urge to fidget, I remarked, “Thank you. I’m very flattered but goodnight, Ms Lennard.”

With an enigmatic grin, she skipped away and was soon out of sight.

Maybe there’s hope for her yet.