Page 85 of Sunshine
Covering my face with my hands, I sigh. “I’m not. I don’t understand how you can’t hate me so much when you don’t even know me. I didn’t do this,” I choke out.
“Where are your gas cans, Tess?” Mack demands. I drop my hands from my face and look at the tall man. He’s lankier than Case, rougher around the edges, with silver streaking his long dark hair and beard. He grunts and my eyes find his. The ice in his stare is enough to give me frostbite so I look away.
“At the side of the house where they’ve been since…” I stop talking. It sounds too damning. Yes, I did sabotage him, too many times to count, but this is different. This act was cruel, and it would be only for the purpose of vengeance. Is that what people think me capable of? I look to my best friend. She appears just as invested in the answers as Mack.
I grit my teeth, holding back tears. Even Paige isn’t sure of me.
“Hm. Were you going to say, right where they’ve been since you sabotaged him, maybe?” Mack jabs his long finger in my direction. “You’ve set a pattern, and you have motive for upping your game.”
“What motive?” I bark.
“You thought he had another family.”
There’s a pause as I absorb his words.Thought?
“Thought?” I narrow my eyes on him. “You implied he did. So does he or doesn’t he?”
Mack has the audacity to shrug.
My jaw shifts when he doesn’t clarify. Anger is a hot emotion and I’m on fire with it.
“I’d say ask him, but I don’t want you near him. And either way, it’s not my fucking problem if you jumped to conclusions. And definitely not my problem if your imagination sent you over the edge to commit arson and attempted fucking murder.”
I swallow hard. How did the whole world flip onto its head in the blink of an eye. “Attempted Murder?” The words come out woodenly, especially since my head is still spinning with the possibility that I was wrong about Case.
“You’ve been manipulating him since the beginning. He’s my family and he’s been through enough. I protect family.” He takes a threatening step toward me. “Everyone knows you’ve been fucking with him and his worksite for months. Why would anyone believe it wasn’t you this time, too?”
Paige steps in front of me. “Enough. You need to leave. You have no right to harass her. Innocent until proven guilty, pal. And you’re not the law.”
Wrapping my arms around my middle, I hug myself, looking away, hurt twisting inside me. The evidence is too damning.
“Maybe you helped,” Mack snarls, turning his fiery gaze on Paige. “Did you? Is the innocent sweetheart act a farce?”
Her jaw drops. “I didn’t help.”
I roll my eyes just as he says it, knowing exactly what he’s doing.
Mack’s eyes cut to mine. “So, you did do it.”
“No, she?—”
I stop Paige. “No, I didn’t.” Directing my next words at my best friend, I continue. “He’s tricking you into saying something that can be twisted to fit his narrative. No one really thinks you did anything.”
Paige’s brows rise and she presses her lips tightly.
“Sit down, both of you.” Mack points to the couch and Paige plops down, just like when we were young and in trouble. She was always the obedient one whether we were guilty or not.
“You’re in my house and we’re not dogs to scold.” Peripherally I see Paige rising slowly.
“Right,” she adds, but her voice cracks as Mack stomps closer, hooks his finger and lifts her chin so she’s looking him in the eye. I’m a little mesmerized by the two of them. It’s like watching an accident unfold, hating it, but not able to look away. There is something between them. Some weird chemistry or something. It crackles in the air.
“Tell me, while Tess was distracting Case at the barn, did you light the match? Or were you supposed to do it earlier? Maybe he was meant to be there when it happened.”
Paige gasps, stepping back, her hand flying to her mouth. I step protectively in front of her this time.
“Get the hell out. Now.” My words are calm but beneath them is a barely controlled, white-hot rage waiting to break free. “Go! Call the police if you suspect us but get the hell out.”
“We’re not done,” Mack states, stepping toward us, but I ignore him, grabbing Paige instead.
