Page 90 of Such a Good Girl

“Those three? You mean Rian and Theo also?”

“Rian is a walking volcano, actually, so no. I really only mean Theo and West.”

“You and Theo sure have some fiery chemistry between the two of you. What’s going on there?” Violet asked.

“You noticed?” Everleigh scoffed, then sighed deeply before continuing. “We’ve known Theo forever, since we were kids. There’s a lot of history there, unfortunately. We’ve attempted to get past it all, but I don’t know if we ever will.”

“Are you dating?”

“I wouldn’t call what we’re doing dating, not by a mile. And if West got wind of it, he’d probably strangle Theo to death. We hook up occasionally, but it never goes smoothly. I don’t know why we can’t get along.”

I raised a brow, visions of the strangled victims flashing in my head.

“Please don’t tell my brother.”

“I won’t,” I said, just as the doorbell rang.

“Is that the back door?” Violet asked.

I nodded. “I’ll get it.”

When I opened the back door off of our kitchen, there was nobody there. Lying on the ground were two cardboard boxes, both with my name on them. I picked them up and brought them inside, setting them on the kitchen counter.

I searched for a letter opener in a nearby drawer and opened the smaller one first. A huge smile spread across my face when I read the attached card.

“A ruby is almost as beautiful as my Little Rose.”

It wasn’t signed, but it didn’t need to be. Lying on a bed of black velvet, a ruby encrusted tennis bracelet sparkled up at me.

“West,” I whispered. I gingerly picked it up and held it up. Rainbow hued beams of light danced off the carved edges of the crimson jewels.

“What’s going on?” Violet called from the living room.

“It’s a delivery from West, I’ll be right back.” I put the bracelet down on the velvet, turning to the next box. It was bigger and had my name scrawled across the top of it in flowery handwriting. Something about it tugged at my brain as I sliced through the tape that held it together.

I opened it up and saw another card inside. The handwriting was different on this one, and I glanced down to the bottom of it and saw it was signed by “West”. Starting at the top, I began reading, my heart racing faster with each word.

Dear Kaylee,

I can’t believe I ever had anything to do with you. You were nothing but a pity fuck, and not that great of one either. I’m done. My life will now go on without you, happily and easily. I deserve better than you. I’m done slumming.

Love,

West

My mouth dropped open in shock. I must have made a noise.

“Kaylee, what the hell are you doing?” Violet called out again.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion after that.

My brain froze. The letter’s handwriting matched the handwriting on the letter I’d found in my locker. Nothing written in that letter seemed like something West would actually say to me. The tugging in my brain finally unraveled.

Inside the box was another smaller one , gift-wrapped meticulously with dark red and black floral paper.

“Kaylee!” Violet called out again.

Then, I heard it. The distinct tick-tick-tick.

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