Page 30 of Gifts

“Well?” Levi’s tone is insistent and demanding.

I try to give him a reassuring smile, but I’m not sure anything can make up for what he’s had to go through all morning. “You’re good, Levi. Video surveillance doesn’t lie. Someone got into your locker.”

The poor guy. His eyes immediately fall right before his head does. He quickly recovers, hiding any emotion, even though he’s justly deserving of it. He nods and looks to his father—his voice thick and laced with conviction. “I told you.”

“You did.” Asa stands and grasps his son’s shoulder and I can tell he’s relieved as well. That is, until he crosses his arms and the air surrounding him becomes so thick, I’d need a machete to break through. His eyes narrow, his beautiful jaw covered in his clipped beard clenches, and it feels as if he’s towering over me when he demands, “Who the fuck did this to my son?”

Wow. Just witnessing Asa Hollingsworth angry and leap into protection mode for his son sends my insides into a flurry of tornadic activity.

Shit, shit, shit.

*****

Asa

Keelie’s eyes get big and she shifts her weight uncomfortably. “Mr. White said he’d like you to wait here so he can speak to you.”

“Tell me who did it,” I demand. Someone just tried to fuck with my son’s future. No way does that happen without consequences. I can’t even try to hide how fucking angry I am.

She shakes her head. “I can’t. Mr. White wants Levi to stay here in case he has any questions. Maybe he’ll divulge who it—”

“I know,” I interrupt. “You’ve said that before—you can’t speak about other students. I get that. But this isn’t girls being mean. Levi’s eighteen. He could’ve been charged, fucking up his future. He has a right to know who it is.”

She lowers her voice, trying to calm me. “I agree.”

“I want to talk to the principal. Now.”

“He’s questioning other students as we speak. I’m not sure how long it will take—”

She’s interrupted when the door opens and the principal is back, this time much friendlier since he knows my son isn’t either doing drugs or dealing them, and offers me his hand again. “Mr. Hollingsworth, I’m glad we got it all cleared up. Levi, sorry you had to go through that.” He takes a seat across from Levi, but there’s no way I can calm down enough to sit right now. “While the police are processing information, I wanted to ask you a few questions. Have you had any issues, disagreements, or problems lately? Anything that would spur something like this on?”

Levi doesn’t even take a moment to think. “No. Not at all. Look, I’m just as sick of high school as the next guy. I want to graduate and move on to college. I hang with my friends and Carissa, that’s it.”

“No one’s holding a grudge against you? In school or even lacrosse?”

Levi shakes his head. “I don’t know why they would.”

The questions continue and Levi has no answers.

Finally, when the principal seems convinced my son has no helpful information, I interrupt, “I want to know who was on that video.”

“I’m sorry.” Brett gets up to leave. “It’s school policy. I can’t discuss other students with you. I need to get back. Ms. Lockhart will see you out.”

I watch the guy leave, shutting the door behind him, and turn to Keelie. Before I open my mouth to demand it, she looks away from me and to Levi when she asks, “Do you know Terry Mosher?”

Levi looks confused. “I think I might’ve had a class with him a couple years ago, but other than that, no. We don’t hang in the same groups.”

“That’s who did it?” I ask, pissed yet surprised, Keelie gave that up.

“A girl was with him,” she adds carefully and her eyes come to me. “Maggie Stockton.”

I tense and she gives me barely a nod. When I look to Levi, I ask, “You have a beef with either one of them?”

Levi frowns. “No. I don’t even talk to them.”

“There’s no denying what’s been done, especially by Mosher,” Keelie says. “Video doesn’t lie and there’s a clear view of the drugs as he tossed them in Levi’s locker. Mosher’s eighteen—my guess is the police will take it from here. His consequences here at school will be the least of his worries.” She gives Levi a reassuring smile. “You’re all good, Levi.”

It’s well after lunch and I’m sure Levi wants to get out of here. “I’m gonna pull Emma from class and take them both home. The day’s almost over. Levi can come back for practice.”

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