Page 81 of Wicked Ends
Sally slid me a sideways look. “He didn’t say. Maybe a secret admirer?”
I stopped walking completely. More likely a ghost from the past that I’d hoped, in my most delusional moments, to never meet again. The memory of my last night in my hometown played on repeat in my head most nights. I’d analyzed every single second,from the sound Dale had made when he fell to the way the blood soaked into the carpet. The truth was, I couldn’t know for sure. Was I a murderer or a wannabe? Finding out the answer to that would end my terrible curiosity but also destroy my life in the process. Someone calling for me could be anyone from my past, or the cops, or a PI, orhim. I felt ill at the thought.
“He wanted to know your address or cell.”
“And?” I could taste pennies in my mouth.
“I told him that we don’t give out personal information, and anyway, he had the wrong person… wrong name. I mean, he mentioned the piano video, but he clearly had you confused with someone else.”
I let out an unsteady breath.
“What did he say?”
“He kept insisting that he talk to you, or have confirmation that you were here, asked for your extension, that sort of thing. I told him, like I tell the guys who phone sometimes about my brother—get a warrant if you want an honest answer.”
I nodded. Sally reached out and took my hand.
“Is everything okay with you? You could tell me if it wasn’t.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. Thank you for doing that, and for letting me know.”
“It’s fine, anyway, I was hardly lying. Any old psycho could call up anyone and try to find out their information. It sucks.”
We followed Bill and Wade into the dining hall. The place was busy, as always, with the high, corniced ceilings sending the laughter and chatter of students ricocheting around.
I grabbed a limp-looking salad from the offerings on display, paid, and sat.
Don’t freak out. It could have been anyone,I tried to tell myself.It might not be him.But who else would call about me? There was no one else in the world who cared enough to try to find me, or there hadn’t been before I’d come to Hade Harbor. Now? I could almost believe that there were a few people who might notice if I disappeared overnight. Kenna, for one, Bill, old Earl at the Night Owl.Marcus?
Across the dining hall, there was a table drawing attention, mostly from the female members of the student body.
The Ice Gods’ table. I was well aware of it. Everyone was. I’d also become more familiar with who was who after reading the campus newspaper this morning, which featured a play-by-play of a recent game, and headshots of the players. The Ice Gods were hard to forget. Now, I glanced over to see who was sitting there and met a warm, probing hazel stare. Marcus sat with his arm over the empty seat next to him, nodding now and again to what his friend, Asher Martino, was saying. Cayden West, the star forward, sat across from them, his arm around a pretty redhead, and Beckett Anderson strolled in their direction holding two lunch trays, while a dark-haired student led the way. The Ice Gods and their girlfriends made space for Anderson and his girlfriend, but all the while, Marcus’ gaze stayed on me. Cayden twisted around to follow his friend’s gaze. His mouth moved, and though I was too far away to hear what was said, I could guess, as the rest of the table turned to stare at me. My cheeks heated, and I dropped my inspection, feeling caught out.
“So, are you going to see him again?” Sally was asking Bill.
I tried to concentrate on their conversation, but it was like there was a string tied to my attention, tugging in Marcus’ direction continuously. He had a shiny red apple in one hand and a knife clutched in the other. The way he held it made it look a lot more dangerous than a dinner knife should.
After a while, I risked another glance up. The table of Ice Gods had resumed eating, talking comfortably with each other. A girl approached, young and fit; her whole vibe screamed cheerleader. She stopped behind Marcus, and everything inside me stiffened.
She shifted her tray and jerked her head toward the empty seat beside Marcus. The Ice Gods were silent, waiting for him to make a decision.
I felt like I was holding my breath while I waited for him to decide whether to let the pretty cheerleader sit right there next to him, where his arm was resting across the empty seat.
Then Marcus nodded and pushed the chair out, inviting the girl to sit.
My breath whooshed out, and I turned away. I couldn’t help the sting in my chest. Jealous. I was jealous of that girl… not only of how beautiful and young she was, but how she could approach Marcus in public and sit with him.
The jealousy was cloying and unwanted, but at the same time, undeniable.
“You’re not hungry?” Sally remarked.
I glanced around to see that I was the only person at the table who’d barely started on their lunch.
“Not really,” I murmured.
Sally raised an eyebrow. “I can’t blame you. Everyone knows the salad here sucks. It’s fries, or nothing.”
“Agreed. I hit the gym every morning to make sure I can have the fries here,” Wade said.
