Page 13 of Hate Game

He stares at the house, searching for clues to back up his suspicion. I look around. Why would any of these kids want to get Malice in trouble? Some of them can be the biggest snobs and jerks, but they would never intentionally set a house on fire.

“Why would someone set a place on fire?”

“Maybe it’s their idea of fun,” Winslow says. “Small towns can be boring.”

“Someone could’ve gotten hurt!”

“Money can make a person not care,” Winslow adds.

Is he insinuating that someone made money off another’s pain? “No amount of money would make menot care.”

“Even for a shit ton of money?” Shay asks.

“Not even for a million dollars,” I confirm. “There are memories in that house for Malice and his parents.”

“Yet, you stole,” Shay says close to my ear.

I give him the stink eye, refusing to be intimidated by his height and muscular build. Or the fact he was Delridge’s star QB and therefore granted instant royalty status. And he cannot charm me into sin with his mesmerizing green eyes.

“I didn’t steal for gain.”

“Ah, so you do it for fun.” He strokes his chin with a thoughtful expression. I roll my eyes.

“She does it for destruction, bruh.” Red grabs Shay by the shoulders and moves him away from me. “I suspect whoever did this has the same M.O. as Rue.”

“Has or had?” Shay asks.

“Past tense, okay? Geez.”

“Hey, I’m asking for a friend.”

“Which one?”

Shay points at Red.

Red shrugs. “You’re staying with me tonight. Should I inventory every space in the house and take pictures? Make certain nothing’s gone missing?”

What does it say about my character when my best friend mistrusts me? I stare at the ground and kick at the dirt. “Go ahead if it makes you feel better.”

“You know we’re teasing, right?”

“Yeah, sure,” I mumble, my eyes glued to my worn-down sneakers.

“Come on, Rue. I trust you.” He stretches his arm across my shoulders. “Did you like how I made it rhyme?”

A smile tugs at my lips. “Yes.”

“That’s better.” Red pulls me against him and drops a kiss on my head.

His action doesn’t catch me off guard or make me think anyone could misinterpret it as something more. We’re BFFs and have been since we were thirteen.

Out of the corner of my eye, Red stares at the house intently. He might not like Malice, but when someone threatens a member of his family, the Sterling guys take the threat personally. I wish I could say the same about my family. Their idea of loyalty is bailing without saying a word. A simple goodbye would’ve been enough for me to have peace. Instead, I am left with this ache in my chest.

Malice is lucky; his family is tight-knit.

I look off to the side and see him standing with Cassie. What is going through his head? Cassie leans into him. He doesn’t wrap his arm around her or say anything after she says something to him. Instead, he turns his back on her and his parents’ house and walks down the dirt path that leads to his place.

What a jerk.

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