Games We Play (Thistle Cove 2)

I look up and see her right across from me. I’ll admit I don’t pay Alice much attention. Especially not after all the shit that went down between her and Kenley. But with her so close I do notice a few changes—physically. Her hair is a deeper pink than normal and the makeup under her eyes dark and thick. There’s a septum ring that I’m pretty sure wasn’t there before.

“Do I think who is happy?” I ask, knowing the answer.

Her eyes flit to where Kenley studies the pictures. “Kenley. Is she happy?”

“I think the last month has been really fucking hard on everyone, Alice, and Kenley is doing what she can to make the best of it.”

Like trying to get some ice cream in peace.

“I always knew she’d drop me when she got the chance.” Her jaw tics. “I’m sure you don’t think she’ll do that to you too, but she will. She only has eyes for one person. Well, two, but one is dead. That leaves Finn.” Her eyes sweep over me. “You’re cute Oz, but you’re no Finn Holloway. I couldn’t make her happy and neither can you.”

I’m not sure what reaction Alice is hoping for but it’s not the burst of laughter that she gets. Her snide grin falters. “I think you just revealed your own blind spot, Alice. Kenley doesn’t need to be sheltered and controlled. She wants, no, needs, more than one person in her life—more than one friend, maybe more than one boyfriend. She was always going to leave you because you wanted her all to yourself.”

We stare at one another for a long beat and I add, “I’m not sure if you two can ever work things out, but I do know that as long as you’re petty and jealous, Kenley won’t want to be in your life.”

Her eyes narrow, hurt and prideful. I don’t know if Alice is in love with Kenley or what, but she’s trapped in a level of toxicity that supersedes everything else. She finally turns away and walks over to the blender, shutting it off.

A moment later I’m walking out the door, handing the cone to Kenley.

“Thanks,” she says. “Sorry I walked out. I just can’t with that today.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“Did she say something to you?” she asks when we reach the car. She leans against the side, taking a long lick of her cone.

“She wanted to know if you’re happy.” A smudge of chocolate clings to her lip. I reach out and wipe it away with my thumb. “Are you?”

“Yeah,” she says. “Maybe I need to do a better job of letting everyone know.”

She touches my cheek and places a kiss on my mouth, right where everyone in the whole goddamned town can see.

29

Kenley

Cold water rushes over my hands and I curse the fact the school doesn’t have hot water in the bathrooms. I guess I’m lucky there’s soap in the dispenser.

I’m not so lucky when it comes to paper towels.

“Crap,” I mutter, looking up as the door opens. Kayla James walks through the door. “Hey,” I say. “No paper towels. Again.”

“It’s like they don’t want us to wash our hands,” she says, striding over to the mirror. She drops her bag in the sink and starts rummaging through.

I don’t know Kayla personally. She’s younger and we’re not involved in any of the same activities. There’s been zero reason for me to talk to her, but now seems like my chance.

“Hey, do you have any lotion? The cold water is ruining my skin.”

“Yeah, I think so.”

She digs through her purse and pulls out a pale, purple tube. I take it and squeeze out a small dollop. It smells like lavender.

Kayla’s wearing a big sweater, different from her normal skintight clothing. I pretend not to notice when she tugs at the cowl neck, revealing a purple mark on her collarbone.

“Jesus Christ,” she mutters, fishing out a tube of concealer.

I peer over and say, “That I can help with.”

Her eyes flick to mine in the mirror. “What?”