Page 113 of Only Fate

“I heard they’re reopening Earl’s case. Is that true?”

I edge back when she grabs a towel. “It seems so.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmurs. “Are you going to fight it?”

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do,” I quickly say, wanting to get out of here.

I’ve seen Jenna around town a few times, but we always do our best to avoid each other. Years might have passed, and we might have grown up, but she’s had so many opportunities to apologize for how they treated me.

Mia told her to leave me alone. My parents even reached out to the principal, which only resulted in them bullying me more. River punched Jenna’s boyfriend in the face for it once, resulting in him getting in trouble with the school and my parents.

I start to leave, but she calls my name, stopping me.

“I’m really sorry for the way we treated you,” she says, averting her eyes.

“You had to blame someone.” I shrug, staring at her blankly, pretending their bullying didn’t make me want to die sometimes. “You chose me instead of the man who actually did it.”

“Everyone knew it was Earl.” She raises her head to look me in the eyes, then lowers her voice when someone joins us in the restroom. She waits until they’re in their stall before continuing. “You can’t let them release Earl from prison. It wouldn’t be fair to Ethan.”

“I have no say in what the PEP does.”

“But aren’t you an attorney?” She raises her brows. “You were also a victim in the accident. That’s reason enough for you to fight to keep him there, right?”

“I’m not sure.”

From the research I’ve done, the PEP has a history of winning cases. Their website reports a ninety percent success rate. For that, I’m bracing myself for Earl’s possible release. I just pray he doesn’t return to Blue Beech.

Jenna picks at her nails. “If Earl is free, does that mean he didn’t do it?”

“Not necessarily. They could’ve found a weak spot in the case.”

She holds up her hand, intersecting two fingers. “Fingers crossed he stays where he belongs.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, “fingers crossed.”

I don’t match her gesture.

I simply turn around and leave the restroom.

Lainey stops shimmying her shoulders to a Sabrina Carpenter song and sets down her lemonade when she sees me.

“Are you okay, Essie?” she asks in concern.

“I’m fine.” I sit and nervously wipe my sweaty palms down my dress.

Her blue eyes meet mine from across the table. “You don’t look fine.”

I gulp. “I’m just feeling a little under the weather, I guess.”

“Let’s go, then.” She tosses her wallet and phone in her bag that’s hanging on her chair and starts to stand.

I catch her hand to stop her. “I don’t want to ruin your lunch.”

“We can come another day. Plus, I probably don’t need the carrot cake. The lemonade and three strawberry Pop-Tarts I had earlier already have my sugar levels soaring.”

I sigh and spread my napkin across my lap. “Carrot cake and mimosas are just what I need right now.”

She gives me a sly look. “I’m willing to make that sacrifice with you, if it helps.”

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