Page 37 of What Happened on Roslyn Street?
“That’s what makes it so terrible.” Horrified laughter claws from my throat without permission. “This is my first good date in years, and it’s with the strangest guy on campus! Why?”
She shrugs. “It happens to the best of us.”
“Does it?” My strangled laughter continues. “Does it really?”
BUZZ…
“Oh, my G—” Margaux steps forward, her hand patting my bag. “Give me the phone.”
“What?”
“Give it to me!”
I don’t dare deny what she asks, passing my phone with swiftness.
“It’s nothing,” I say. “I get spam texts all the time.”
She glances at the phone.
“It’s him,” she says, passing the phone back. “You should reply to him if you don’t want to end this so quickly.”
My hands shake as I take the phone, brows furrowed at thewords on the screen.
Unknown Number
It’s Caldwell.
Aside from the abrupt ending, I had a nice time. Let me know if you’d like to see me again.
And please text me once you’re safe. You worry me.
I blink at the words. My heart races. Is it from the texts or my run across campus? The texts are harmless. They’re sweet, even—as sweet as a monster can be. I bite at my lower lip.
“Don’t let that fool you,” Margaux says. “Him sending a couple of corny texts doesn’t mean he’s off our suspect list.”
“I know that!” I snap. “He’s the only one on the list. We can’t remove him so quickly.”
I turn off my phone without responding to the text, slipping it into my pocket.
“And yet…” Margaux says, moving back to her bed. “You know what? Never mind.”
“No,” I say, rolling my eyes. I follow her over, settling next to her on the bed. “Finish your sentence, Margaux. What condescending thing were you going to say next?”
“Nothing,” she says simply, wiping her hands together. “I’m washing my hands of this. You’re an amateur, and you’re going to get us caught—or killed.”
“You aren’t much help! How am I supposed to do this alone?”
“Why should I keep helping you risk your life?”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“We aren’t friends unless you want something from me. Now, I’m supposed to pretend you didn’t ice me out formonths—that you didn’t snoop on my private possessions and ruin our friendship?”
The way I found Margaux’s secret wasn’t my proudest moment. I shouldn’t have read her journals—but she shouldn’t have lied to me for twenty years.
“You kept secrets from me!” I exclaim, standing up. “That’swhat ruined our friendship.”
“No!” She laughs bitterly. “Sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong willalwaysbe the most ruinous part of your life. You’re doing it here. You’re doing it with—whatever his name is.Codwaddle.”
