Page 99 of Serial Burn

“Then that probably means Kenny knows more than he’s saying, which I’ve always believed.”

“I agree, but we just don’t have the evidence we need to arrest him. Nothing links to him except his presence at the fires.”

“And honestly, we only know he was actually at one fire. I can’t tell you if that was him at the church or not. Or the hospital. Or at the inspection sites. Or all the places I’ve been and someone’s shown up.”

“Well, Kenny doesn’t drive that make or model car, but that doesn’t mean much. The car’s probably stolen.”

“I know.”

Finally, the minister stepped back and the family filed past the coffin to drop flowers and dirt on it. Sobs echoed and a hard fist squeezed Nathan’s heart. He wanted to know who had done this to a kid who’d had a lot of living left to do.

Brad’s mother spotted them and broke away from her family to walk over and hold out a hand. “Thank you for coming.”

“Of course,” Nathan said. “We’re so very sorry.”

“Just find out the truth, please. I need the truth. One way or another.” She rejoined her family, and Nathan watched for a moment before turning his focus back to the math team.

“They all seem pretty broken up,” he said.

“They do.” When the funeral was over, she walked to the car with him. Once they were buckled in, she turned. “I’ve thought about what you said.”

“About...”

“Dating. You want me to go on a date with you.”

“Ah, that.”

“I ... want to do that...”

“But?”

She swallowed and looked away. Out the window, then down at her hands.

“But?” he asked again.

“But I’m not sure I knowhowto do that.”

“Do what? Date?”

“Yes.”

He honestly wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “Jesslyn—”

“No, let me explain.”

He glanced around and noted the people leaving the service. He’d keep an eye on the crowd while she talked. “Okay.”

“This is embarrassing to even say, but the truth is, I don’t know how to date. I’ve never had a boyfriend. Not a real one. There was a guy in high school who liked me and we hung out some, but when I got a B on a test, I dumped him because I couldn’t afford the distraction. Since then, I’ve never done more than go out with guys in friend groups. I’ve never allowed myself to dream about what it might be like to be normal, to have a relationship. To want something other than justice for my family.”

Nathan swallowed, trying to figure out how to navigate this situation. “I can’t imagine what that was like for you.”

“No, you can’t, but it’s okay. It was my life. It’s not like I knew anything different. And I didn’t care. Not really. I had my goals and I was achieving them one by one.” She shot him a sad smile. “And then you came along.”

“And?” Dare he hope?

“And I like you too, Nathan. A lot. But you could be the same kind of distraction that boy was in high school and I can’t let that happen.”

His hopes plummeted and he cleared his throat. “I see.”

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