Page 72 of Juliet's Echo

“Her little fast ass got pregnant and decided to keep the baby. Probably for a place to live,” she judged.

The nerve.

“Anyways,” she continued, completely unbothered by her own hypocrisy, “the teacher wasn’t going for it. He killed Shannon and left town.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” I gasped.

“Yes, girl,” she said, taking another sip of her mimosa. “And because she was Echo’s best friend, the Everettes raised that baby. God bless their hearts.”

She closed her eyes and pressed her hand to her chest like she was leading Sunday morning prayer.

This information was priceless.

Juliet Everette.

Miss Perfect.

Miss Everybody-Loves-Me-and-My-Family-Is-Better-Than-Yours.

Wasn't even an Everette.

I got word that her friend Yahya had been discussing my family's business, and I had every intention of popping her in the mouth.

Except Yahya would kill me.

But this?

This was gold.

“She’s an orphan who doesn’t even know,” I said, a smile spreading across my face.

My mother nearly spit out her drink.

“Ava,” she warned.

I ignored her.

“This is amazing.”

“Ava.”

“This shit is going to spread through campus like wildfire.”

“Ava Koi Lennox!”

The use of my full name finally got my attention.

My mother slowly slid her dark sunglasses over her eyes and stared at me.

“Shut your mouth.” She hissed.

“What?” I asked.

“I’ve had too many mimosas and I’m gossiping worse than Wendy Williams.”

“Who?”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, waving me off. “Listen, and listen good. What I told you isn't a secret. But the secret died with Shannon. To people your age, it’s more of a folktale than anything else. Most of y'all have never even heard it.”