Page 58 of Our Darkest Summer
“The Nancy Drew collection? Really?” Thomas whispered, and I shrugged.
“I didn’t hear you voicing a better idea,” I bit back, and he scoffed, his fingers slightly brushing against mine.
The touch was momentary, but it was enough to wake my body as if I had been electrocuted. I glanced up at him, but his attention was focused ahead. For a moment, I thought I imagined it, but then the slightest smirk tugged on his lips. My chest burned.
“Are you sure we can afford to follow a stranger to unknown places?” Connor asked, reminding me of his presence.
“Unknown places? You mean the library?” I snorted, and he pinched me.
“Ouch,” I startled away, rubbing the sore spot. “You pinched me!”
“I’m sorry, but—” He bit his tongue when I pinched him back. “Hey!” Connor had the nerve to sound offended.
“You started it,” I argued, lowering my voice.
“Stop it,” Thomas cut in, sweeping us away from each other. I looked away from Connor, seeing Susie disappear between the rows. The alarms went off in my head.
“Where is she going?” I asked, moving to follow, but Thomas stopped me.
“She was called away by someone else. She’s not going back to the girls.”
I raised my eyes at the yellow books on the shelves and pulled out my phone.
ME
She might be heading back to you soon. Any success with Cora?
Three dots appeared on my screen almost instantly.
AALIYAH
The room is locked… Susie has the key.
Well, that wasn’t the outcome I was hoping for.
“So, I guess plan A is on?” Thomas asked with a knowing smirk and I blew out an annoyed breath.
“Plan B, you mean,” I answered while pullingNancy’s Mysterious Letteroff the shelf. This was the first book I read from the series, the concept of every thread connecting at the end always amazed me.
“Maybe for you,” Thomas answered, “I, however, like to be a step ahead.”
“Breaking and entering is a step ahead for you?”
“Everything is a step ahead that gains you a win, Wise Girl.”
I shook my head, and Connor snorted while I placed the book back onto the shelf.
“You are studying to be a lawyer. Shouldn’t you, I don’t know, respect the laws?” I could imagine myself breaking into somewhere, but Thomas? I would never have dreamt of it.
“I told you. Never trust in lawyers, Kins,” Connor shook his head, but there was playfulness in his eyes.
“Well,” Thomas bellowed as we walked back toward the exit, “if you know the consequences of what you are about to do and how to treat it, it doesn’t scare you.”
I wrinkled my nose. “That’s very…Yoda of you.” I pulled out my phone again to respond to Aaliyah, but something else on my screen stopped me. My brows furrowed.
The Mystery Crew, I read the group chat’s name.
Braxton, from your contacts, has made a group chat.
