Page 29 of Ecstasy
When I’m done answering those messages, I open up a new screen.
To Zara.
Aside from seeing her Wednesday with Alex, we haven’t spoken since Sunday morning, when I was calling 911 as she stared out at Rihanna’s body, which had already sunk to the bottom of the pool.
It was kind of eerie, Rihanna’s brown hair fanned out around her face, limbs loose by her sides.
Zara was silent. I’d put my hand over her mouth thinking she was going to scream, and maybe she was, but she hadn’t. She’d just jumped in my arms, clinging to me.
Me:You wanna talk?
Finding a dead body in a pool at your ex’s house can’t be fun. She looked paler than usual when I saw her Wednesday, and her and Alex aren’t back together yet.
Someone should check on her.
I shoot off the text, turn up the stereo in my car.Let Me Downby Lil Blanket and that psychopath Landon Tewers. I stare at my phone, waiting for those three little dots. We’ve never texted each other. I have her number because since she’s been dating my roommate, that shit just kind of happens, and I assume she has mine.
But maybe she doesn’t.
Maybe that little secret of hers is one I should just stuff down deep and stop thinking about. Maybe this isn’t going to work how I thought it might. Truth be told, I thought Cardi would be done with her by now.
Or I thoughtshe’dbe done withhim.
I know he doesn’t know her secret. If he did, he’d lose his shit.
And I know too, that they’re probably still banging. They didn’t see me, but I saw them in the cafeteria together yesterday at lunch.
She was picking at a salad.
He had his elbows on the table, staring at her and she was shaking her head as she stared at the food she wouldn’t eat.
She never eats much.
I don’t know if they made up. He hasn’t talked about it except to tell me they aren’t together again. He hasn’t been around much either. I know he’s got practice, and he’s probably been fucking her, or someone else, but I don’t really care if he’s fucking her.
In fact, thinking about it gets my dick hard. I’ve had to hear it all summer. I’m used to it now.
My phone vibrates, and I see she’s texted me back.
Zara:Is something wrong?
I roll my eyes. Me:Just thought you might be a little spooked.
She doesn’t take long to reply.
Zara:You need a shoulder to cry on, Eli? Find someone else.
But she put a little laughing emoji at the end to help soften the blow. I can’t help smiling to myself. She’s such a bitch.
Me:I’m picking up someone from your apartment complex for practice. I’ll come by for a sec.
It’s bullshit of course, but I needed to give her something that makes sense.
I toss my phone in the center console and pull out of the driveway, glancing at Alex’s black Jeep as I do. I wonder if he knows that I remember what he last said to Rihanna. I wonder if he knows I didn’t tell the cops, because if I did, he would’ve been in some shit.
I wonder why the fuck he said it anyway. He got all protective over Za at the end, like he actually gave a shit about her. I’m sure it was because he was drunk. He doesn’t know her like he thinks he does.
He thinks she’s just some stupid whore, and maybe she is, but she’s something else too.
