Page 106 of Unsuitable

I scoop it up to see that it’s Jesse calling.

I take a few breaths to make myself sound normal. “Hey you,” I answer. “How are you doing?”

Things have been going well between Jesse and me since the shoplifting incident. We talk almost every day, and we text regularly.

“Hey, what are you up to?”

My eyes flicker to the laptop screen. I shut the lid down. “Uh, just watching TV. Cece’s working late. What are you up to?”

“Just got back from footy practice.”

“Yeah? How did it go?”

“All right.” I can just imagine him shrugging as he says it.

“What are your plans for the rest of the night?”

“Just gonna chill. Watch some TV. So…I was wondering…well, I was wondering if you’d fancy doing something tomorrow?”

My heart lifts. “With you?”

“Yeah.” He chuckles, and that laugh touches my heart and makes it soar.

“Of course,” I say, my voice pitching higher with excitement. “I would love that. What were you thinking?”

“I thought we could catch a train down to Brighton—you know, like we used to. Hang out on the beach, as the weather’s supposed to be good tomorrow. And there’s a fair on at the moment as well.”

“Sounds great.” I smile. My heart is close to bursting in my chest. “So, should I pick you up tomorrow? I can get a taxi to yours and then have it take us to the train station.”

“Sounds great.”

“What time?”

“What time are the trains?”

“Hmm, not sure. How about I check the train times, and then text you to let you know?”

“Cool. Okay, well, I’ll get off. See you tomorrow.”

“See you then.”

I’m beaming when I hang up the phone. I clutch it to my chest, happiness filling me.

Jesse wants to spend the day with me! He actually called me and asked me to spend the day with him!

I can’t wait to tell Cece!

Okay, so I need train times for tomorrow.

I open up the lid on the laptop, ready to look up times, and I pause at the sight of Haley’s picture alongside the news story I was reading.

My good mood instantly disintegrates.

She was murdered. And Kas might have been the one who was with her the night it happened.

The things he could have witnessed…

The thought makes me sick.