Lies We Tell (Thistle Cove 3)

Juliette bounds across the stage.

“Only in Thistle Cove is the daughter of an accused murderer class president,” Ozzy mutters.

“It’s not her fault,” Finn says. “I mean, she did help us save Kenley.”

Thank god for that. It’d been close. Too close.

“Seniors!” Juliette starts, her cheerleader voice echoing through the room. “As Thistle Cove looks to the past during our centennial celebration, traditions have been a major theme. Many traditions have survived; homecoming, float building, the spaghetti dinner, talent night, but a few did not.” She looks into the crowd. “One of these is the Senior Retreat. It was cancelled years ago and never reinstated.”

“Because her mom killed Jaqueline Cates,” Ozzy adds sarcastically.

That’s the thing about Juliette—there’s no awkwardness. No irony. She continues on like the whole school isn’t aware that her mother is a sociopath.

“But your elected SGA staff has pushed to bring this epic weekend trip back! It’s a place for us to unwind, bond, and grow as a community. It’s important. It’s tradition.”

“Where are we going?” someone in the crowd shouts.

“Jasper Lodge,” she says with a wide smile. “Two hours north, there’s outdoor activities, sledding, tubing, ice skating and more. Although there will be plenty of free time, there will also be small groups to talk about graduation, colleges, and more.” She holds up a stack of papers. “I know it’s last minute, but the trip is over Christmas break—the twenty-eighth through the first, actually.”

“New Year’s Eve!” someone shouts. It sparks more excitement and cries in the crowd.

Juliette beams.

“Even better is that an anonymous donor has offered to pay for the entire class to go! Everyone needs to sign up ASAP to secure your spot. It isn’t a mandatory event, but it’s something you won’t want to miss.”

Juliette waves to her SGA minions and they hop up, taking stacks of the forms and moving toward the door to pass them out as we leave.

“What do you think about that?” Finn asks, looking at the two of us.

My eyes cast down to the front row, to Kenley, and the fact my dad will be nowhere around. “I think a weekend away may be just what everyone needs.”

3

Kenley

Juliette stops me as I walk toward the Valhalla room. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Sure.”

She brushes her cherry red hair over her shoulder. “I’m looking for a few creative people to be on the planning committee for the retreat. I thought you may be interested.”

“You think I’m a worthy partner even after we ruined that cake at your house? Twice?”

She smiles. “Ugh, that cake was awful, right?”

“Nothing a pound of icing couldn’t fix.”

“After all the drama this fall, I just want to have a good time. We’ll be there for New Year’s Eve and the administration has approved us having a ‘school appropriate’ party.” She uses air quotes. “Which obviously means no drinking and drugs, but we need to make it fun. Can you help me do that?”

I study Juliette. Her hair is perfect, her dress on trend, her shoes painfully uncomfortable-looking, but she looks like she’s walking on clouds. Yeah, there’s a bit of haunted darkness in her eyes, but she plays it off.

“You really want me to help?”

“Rose is gone. My mother’s in jail, and my father?” she glances down the hall. “Well, you more than anyone know about my father. It’s refreshing to be around someone that knows the truth about my family.”

Her tone is genuine, her expression sincere. “I’d be happy to help. Just let me know what I can do.”

“Perfect. I’ll add you to the group text.”