Page 17 of Their Cruel Play
Sidney:
That works. Don’t be late
I sigh as I read through the texts again, looking for any subtext or any way they can fuck me over. Mom cocks her eyebrow across the table.
“What’s the plan, Miss Popularity?” She leans back in her chair and crosses her arms. Her eyes drop to Jack’s jersey that I still have on. If Sidney ditches me, I’m at least wearing one of their jerseys to the game. Besides, I like Jack.
“Football game with Kenz. Party after. Spend the night somewhere other than our creepy house.” I meet her concerned eyes. I told her what Kenz and I decided to say. We saw a guy outside the window, and he ran away when we turned on the light.
“I’m calling a security company this weekend.” She shakes her head and looks toward the door. “I’m glad you can stay somewhere else until I can figure something out. Bob said he’d be happy to install some security lights on the doors.”
I take a bite of the pizza I ordered and try not to think about the other nocturnal visitors I’ve had. They won’t admit to how they get in, but will they have issues when a security system is installed?
“Hopefully, you won’t be working nights next week?” I ask with a smile.
She blows out a breath. “Someone is determined to schedule me nights. I’m sorry, Harper. Normally this isn’t a problem, but the nurse who usually takes nights is out on maternity leave, and the hospital has been busy.”
“It’s okay. I’m a grown-up. I’ll just stay with friends.”
When I take another bite, she narrows her eyes.
“Is this Penny a good fit for you? I could always ask Bob and Fran?—”
“Yes, Penny is fine. No, on Bob and Fran.” A couple of times Mom had me stay with them on a night she got called in. Their house smells like old stuff, and the guest bedroom had antique dolls in the corner. Creepy ones with glass eyes and cracked faces. Ice trickles down my spine. “I’ll find somewhere to sleep that isn’t here.”
Mom studies me. Am I giving off the wrong vibes? Finally, she sighs. “I’m just hoping my turn ends, and someone else is forced to work nights.”
“Me too.” I pick up my plate and take it to the dishwasher.
“Is that what you’re wearing to the game?” She joins me at the sink. Her gaze flows over Jack’s jersey and the skater skirt I have on with my converse.
“Why? Did I spill?” I glance down, but there isn’t anything obviously wrong.
“Won’t you be cold?” Mom’s eyes dip to my legs.
I can feel the heat rising in my face. Normally, I wear jeans to games. “No, I’ll be fine.”
“Maybe take a blanket with you.” She leans over and presses a kiss to my head. “Wouldn’t want you to get sick.”
“Okay.”
Kenz knocks on the door.
“Gotta go.” I wrap my arms around my mom. “Love you.”
“Love you too. Be careful. Text me where you’re staying tonight.”
I grab my backpack with my overnight stuff. “Will do.”
When I open the door, Kenz grins. “Ready?”
“Bye,” I say, pulling the door shut, and step down next to Kenz. “Maybe I should have explained everything to Mom. At least the weird stuff that’s been happening.”
She walks beside me to her car. “She knows about the knocking and the tire. You told her about the guy?”
“That we saw him through the window and turned on the light.”
It’s not the whole truth. The whole truth is that guy was in my bedroom last night. Nothing good could have come from that. I didn’t call the police. Myownerssaid they would deal with it, but maybe we should have gotten the police involved. If Luke hadn’t been here, I don’t want to think about what might have happened. A shiver goes down my spine.
