He frowns. “What’s going on with you?”
I start cleaning up the table—sorting photos in the right groupings.
“Nothing. It’s like I said earlier, I’m overwhelmed. I have a lot of work to do on this and for school. I can’t go down every rabbit hole. Maybe Ezra, Sr. was fucking Regina. Maybe Brice was fucking Courtney. Maybe they had orgies all the time. We already know Jason was into some kinky, dark shit.” I stand. “People probably think the same about us. I mean, I shared a bed with you and Finn the other night.”
“Nothing happened though.”
I smile. “Not yet.”
His eyes widen, and he swallows. “If you want to let this go, I’m fine with it.”
“It’s probably for the best.”
He stands and rests his hand on my hip, pulling me close. “I just want you to be happy, Ken, and at peace. You did a good thing solving Jacqueline’s murder and getting Monica to admit her involvement with Rose’s disappearance. That’s enough.”
He kisses me and holds me tight, bringing a sense of calm.
“I should probably go,” I tell him, not wanting to.
“Go on. I’ll clean this up.”
I kiss him again and grab my bag, heading down the hall. I pass Coach Chandler’s office and hear his voice. He’s alone. On the phone.
“Did you tell her?” he asks. “How did she take it?”
My immediate assumption is they’re talking about me is strong. I keep walking, thinking about Alice and how if I wasn’t paranoid before, I am now.
25
Ozzy
After Kenley leaves for her meeting, I clean up and then text Finn. He’s at the diner and even though I just ate, I walk over from the school and find him sitting in the back booth. The place is decked out for the holidays, an artificial tree in the corner and Christmas music playing on the juke box.
“Hey,” I say, sliding in the seat across from him. “What’s up?”
Finn looks up from his menu. “Trying to decide if I should go for the Monster Burger or the Epic Burger.”
I shake my head and laugh. Finn’s food consumption is pretty epic on its own. I can’t imagine eating that much. But, I also can’t imagine working out the way he does, either. “No idea, man.”
“What are you getting?”
“I just had pizza in the yearbook office with Kenley, so maybe just a shake.”
He nods. “How is she?”
“A little stressed about school and Valhalla meetings. Ezra. Oh,” I straighten the salt and pepper shakers. “Alice quit the yearbook staff today and kind of went off on Kenley. It rattled her.”
“What did she say?”
“That Kenley’s toxic and paranoid. Just a bunch of bullshit, but with Kenley’s state of mind, she let it get to her.”
He runs his hand though his hair. “She’s evil.”
“I just don’t think Kenley can fully see it.”
Our waitress comes over. She’s wearing a fur-lined Santa hat, and Finn orders the Epic burger and a shake. I just get the shake; chocolate.
“After all that, we found this photo of Mr. Baxter from high school. It looked like he was holding hands with Regina Waller.”