Secrets We Keep (Thistle Cove 1)

I slam on the breaks and the car lurches forward, flinging her body with it. The seatbelt catches her across the chest. “Jesus, Ken! Are you trying to kill me?”

She rubs her neck where the strap caught her. We’d been alone in the car for two minutes, after dropping Ozzy off after school. “What did you just say?”

She looks over at me, expression innocent. “Did you not see the video? That was an epic fight. I mean, he grabbed her by the neck. With all that bulk he put on this summer, he probably had no problem tossing her over the bridge.”

I stare at the girl that has been my best friend for the last three years—the girl that stuck by me when everyone else bailed, and I just feel…nothing.

“You don’t know that’s what happened.”

She rolls her eyes. “Are you seriously going to start defending him even when there’s evidence? I swear to god the obsession with you never stops. When he goes to jail, are you going to be one of those crazy chicks that sends him fan mail and marries him for conjugal visits? Whatever,” she continues, “the police have all the proof they need that Finn isn’t Mr. Perfect. I mean, fighting on the corner of Main Street is pretty fucking stupid. You and I both know the whole goddamn town can see everything there. You should thank whoever turned that video in—it probably saved your life.”

“That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?” My head is pounding. I just want to go home and take a nap and forget this day—this week--ever happened.

But Alice, predictably, isn’t done. She never is when it comes to Finn Holloway and Rose Waller. “Rose goes missing and then a few days later he’s confessing his true love for you. He’s probably a serial killer who got a high and wants to recreate it. It’s not like you aren’t an easy target.”

Again, I slam on the breaks. “I’m not an easy target.”

She snorts. “Okay.”

“You know what, Alice,” I say, wrapping my hands around the steering wheel, “I know you’re jealous of my relationship with Finn, and you were terrified I’d accept Rose’s apology—you’re half the reason I didn’t accept it. I couldn’t handle the bullshit you would give me if I had. It was easier for me if I just ignored her. But even with her gone, you can’t handle it. You’ve just transferred your envy to Finn. What’s next, Ozzy? Because guess what? I kissed him, too. And you want to know something else? I’ve been hanging out with Ezra Baxter.” Her eyes widen as I speak. “I like having them back in my life. I missed them. And if you keep acting like this, I’m not sure if there will be room in my life for them and you.”

Her lips form a tight line and the tips of her ears turn red. “Oh yeah? If I’m so jealous, why did I not turn in that video of Finn and Rose fighting until now?”

My jaw drops, and she laughs.

“That’s right, the video isn’t from the Gas & Go. It’s from our shop across the street. I saw it all go down. Actually, went outside and heard the fight while it happened.”

“What? You knew about it the whole time? Why didn’t you say something?” We both know it wasn’t to protect Finn.

“Because I heard them break up, and I knew that for the first time in three years, Finn Holloway was going to be single and your obsession with him would kick into gear—right when I’d finally gotten you to let it go!” Tears prick at her eyes. “When Rose went missing and Finn never admitted that they broke up, I figured he just wanted attention for being the suffering, doting boyfriend. No one knew they’d split, and I was happy to keep it that way. But that bastard had to hit on you anyway.” She shakes her head. “Senior year was supposed to be about me and you—not you and Finn Holloway.”

I’m stunned by what she’s staying. It’s not like Alice ever hid her dislike and downright hatred for the two, but the lengths she’d gone to keep the truth from me is astonishing.

“Finn was at the bonfire, Alice. There’s no chance he killed Rose. What’s the point of turning him in to the police?”

“To make you second guess him? To destroy his reputation. To drag him through the mud. I don’t care. I just wanted you to remember he’s still a bad guy. The worst. The same one that hurt you all those years ago.”

Alice doesn’t know that Finn wasn’t involved in spray painting my house. Just like she doesn’t know he cleaned it up before anyone saw. I’m not going to tell her, because she’s proven she’ll never s

ee him for who he really is. Just like she’ll never trust me.

I take a steadying breath and say, “Get out of my car.”

“What?”

“Get out of my car. You can walk the rest of the way home.”

“You’re kidding.” Her voice trembles, and I see the flicker of panic in her eyes. We’ve fought before. Even over this very subject, but after the last two weeks, I’m done.

“No,” I tell her, “I’m not.”

“You still want him, even though you know who he really is.”

“This isn’t about Finn, and it’s not about Rose. It’s about me and you, and the fact that you don’t get to dictate who I’m friends with and you don’t get to demean and belittle and call me names anymore.”

Her jaw drops. “I never—”

“You did. Always. And I guess in some ways, I thought I deserved it. You were there when I needed you, but now I see that you’re really no better than Rose and Juliette. And I’m still the girl letting people walk all over me.” I exhale. “If this whole thing has taught me anything, it’s that I deserve more than that. We all do.”