Page 22 of Oliver

Backdoor Bad Boy:Hey, strange meeting you here.

Dixieletta:Yeah, just don’t tell anyone ;)

Backdoor Bad Boy:Your secret is safe with me, as long as mine is safe too…

Dixieletta:Don’t worry lover boy, I won’t tell a soul.

Lover boy. This could be anyone but as I stare out my window, and into Matt’s front yard, I wonder if it isn’t him, she was speaking to.

It takes two days of serious stalking before I finally see Matt leaving his house. It could be due to the media who camped out at ours for a day or two before finally giving up. We’ve been closed up since the news broke and Mom hardly ever leaves the house anyway.

“Matt!” I call, hustling across the street. He stiffens and looks up from his car, where he's hefting his backpack over his shoulder.

That’s right, just a few days left before graduation. I forgot with all the other shit going down.

“Yeah?” I’ve never liked Matt and I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual. Which is why I’m not expecting him to be overjoyed but downright rude never entered my mind.

“Hey,” I call as he stalks toward the house. When he doesn’t so much as pause in his stride, I say, “Backdoor Bad Boy.”

He goes rigid, his hand on the door before he turns and raises a brow. “What are you babbling about?”

“Please,” I say, waving my hand. “As if you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

With a huff, he turns, and I say, “Stop. Look. I just want to know what you know about Dr. Love.”

“Other than that’s the stupidest name I've ever heard?” he sneers.

I mean using a handle that implies anal sex isn’t exactly going to win any awards for uniqueness, but I bite my tongue on that thought.

“You knew who he was, didn’t you?” I ask.

“Was?” he snorts. “Who heis…”

With that, he’s gone, and I stare at the door before shaking my head. Is Oliver still online? Why?

Chapter 6

I’ve never stolen a goddamn thing…that wasn’t given to me.

Penny

The house is quiet around me and with a tingle of awareness, I tiptoe down the hall and push open my mom’s door. Her bed is empty, and I turn to the stairs. Maybe she’s sleeping on the couch?

My mouth feels like the desert and stopping off at the kitchen, I fill a glass from the sink and gulp it down. It’s been a week since Mr. G was arrested. All my peers at Sterling High should be finishing up their graduation ceremony. Obviously, I didn’t go. Not only because I’m not in the mood to celebrate but because I didn’t take any of the tests.

Some misguided guidance counselor, ironically, emailed to inform me that I can take the tests when I’m ready without a penalty.

I tried to find any more messages from Dr. Love in the chat rooms I joined, but I haven’t seen any evidence that he’s still speaking with these weirdos online. What that means, I don’t know except Matt is probably a liar.

The television flickers from the other room and after refilling my glass one more time, I carry it with me, pausing behind the couch.

Except Mom isn’t here either and with a frown, I peek through the blinds, confirming her car is gone.

I’m surprised she managed to haul herself off the couch to go somewhere but at least the media are finally gone. I guess Dixie’s death was mundane in comparison to catching the Lucky Charm killer.

With a sigh, I head back up the stairs and into the shower before scrubbing my stinky body clean.

I feel marginally refreshed when I emerge and, on a whim, I put on makeup before blow drying and curling my hair.

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