Page 106 of Freshmeet
“And she loves you.”
My heart stuttered, and it was hard to keep my voice quiet. “What?”
She pulled back and gave me a soft smile. “Why else would she stick around after that train wreck of a dinner?”
I tilted my head, keeping my face blank. “Leftovers?”
Mom threw her head back, letting out a loud laugh as she slapped my chest. “Don’t get smart with me.” She leaned forward and said, “And don’t get in your own way.”
As we walked down the driveway to our cars, Uncle Rick’s big ass truck pulled up. He hopped out, a giant smile on his face. “Great news. They arrested the Kirkville Killer.”
“And?” I stopped next to Sarah’s car. “Who is it?”
Uncle Rick took off his ball cap, bending the bill in his hands. “Until they finish their investigation, they won’t be going public with a name.”
“But—”
“Not now, Con,” he said, walking past us to the house.
“Well, that’s good news,” Jamie said, completely ignoring the fact that Uncle Rick was keeping yet another secret.
“I guess.”
TWENTY-ONE
SLUTTY DEAD PRESIDENTS
SARAH
“You really came through. It’s hard finding group costumes for seven people that aren’t of the ‘Hi Ho’ or kidnapping into the mountains variety.” Kat said, admiring the fake wounds on her face.
“What’s more American than the Founding Fathers and dead presidents?” Mona shrugged. She’d taken point on our makeup since Britta was still out of town and knocked it out of the park.
Rae plopped down on the couch with a bowl of popcorn. “You guys look gruesome.”
Olivia held out a handful of fake blood. “You sure you don’t want to come with us? You could be John Hancock. I’ve got a giant feather pen upstairs.”
“It’s gonna be fun,” Mona sang, struggling with her softball pants turned breeches.
Rae shook her head. “I’m fine here. The idea of being around a bunch of strangers and explosives doesn’t sound too appealing, especially after all this Kirksville Killer business.”
“The cops have him in custody,” Olivia said.
Rae waved her hand. “Until they make a public statement naming names, I’m going to play it safe.”
“Fair. You can’t trust these cops to do their job,” Kat said, tying a brass ring to a string. “My dad and stepmonster are always fucking shit up.”
“So you’re not going?” Rae asked, eyeing Kat’s costume.
Kat finished her beer, then said, “Oh no, I’m going. It’s going to take more than my healthy suspicion of law enforcement to keep me from a good party.”
Rae laughed, shaking her head. “Okay, then.”
“Well, call us if you change your mind. Jamie’s driving Kat’s van, and he can always come back and get you,” Mona offered.
Checking my phone, I saw that Jamie had texted, saying he was already at the Gamma house under Frattic. “Speak of the devil. Our driver’s here.”
I grabbed my overnight bag and led the girls out of Frattic. The humid summer air hit us like a wall, making sweat bead up under my makeup. I was the lucky one. I didn’t have white spray in my hair to mimic a powdered wig, and I’d paired my oversized suit coat with a summer dress.
