I look at Seth, his eyes serious and intent on mine. I want to believe he’s on my side.
But why would he be?
What makes more sense—that the hot rich boy from the city has somehow fallen for me, when he could have basically any girl he wants—
Or that he’s just using me to save his own family?
He’s my only alibi for that night. For both nights. One word from him and that alibi goes up in smoke.
I go on, “Besides which, Jeremy doesn’t have any money—”
“What if this money stuff is just a red herring? And it’s him all along?”
“A red herring? Are you listening to yourself?”
He glares at me. “This is because we slept together, isn’t it?”
“No. Just because I don’t want things getting complicated in that way—”
He steps toward me. Now our faces are so close, we could be kissing. “If you haven’t noticed, Addie, things are already really fucking complicated. In every way. Lying to me isn’t going to solve any problems. A week ago, you’d have told me about this. But we get close again, and suddenly you’re shutting me out. When are you going to grow up and start facing things instead of running away from them?”
I stare. “I’m not running away, I’m trying to find out who killed my sister—”
“And I’m trying to find out who killed my cousin! I thought we were in this together!”
His voice is rising. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this upset.
Part of me wants to relent. Tell him I’m sorry. Forget everything Gen told me.
But the part of me that thinks she was telling the truth, that’s questioning every interaction Seth and I have ever had, that’s picturing the trailer park she comes from alongside the mansion he comes from—that part of me won’t be silent.
I close my eyes. “We were never really in it together, Seth. That’s the problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean—you’ll be fine!” I burst out. “People like you are always fine! Even if you were the one who did it, your dad or uncle would find a way to get you off. Probably by pinning it on someone like Jeremy—or me.”
He’s looking at me like he doesn’t even know me. “So now you think I killed Fiona and Thatcher?”
“I didn’t say that. I just mean—”
Then Seth’s eyes go to something over my shoulder.
I spin. And see Jeremy’s car directly behind me.
39
“So that’s it.”
Seth’s voice is flat.
When I turn back around, he’s not even looking at me.
I swallow. “I needed a ride—”
“You spend two fucking hours with them and suddenly I’m the bad one. Not the guy who landed me in the hospital, or the girl who insulted your family—”
“They apologized for that—”
He holds up a hand. “Just…” And then he turns and walks away.
I stare after him. Even the set of his shoulders radiates anger.
I don’t know what to think, what to feel. I’ve never made Seth any promises, but I know that doesn’t matter to him. If he’s sincere, if he’s not in league with his father trying to set me up, set Jeremy or Gen up—I’m pretty sure I just hurt him in a way I didn’t even know I was capable of.
That, or he’s a very good actor.
“Addie?”
Behind me, Gen’s leaning out of the car. “You okay?”
I swallow down my anger, my sadness. “Yeah. Let’s just go.”
She gets out of the car, and I’m about to crawl into the back seat when Gen surprises me by doing it first.
“What—”
“You look like you need shotgun more than me.”
