Untouchable (Private 3)

"At least I got a new purse out of the deal."

173

Like she needed one. She had about five hundred already, stuffed in every crevice of her room.

"So how's Thanksgiving at the caf? It's hard to believe anything actually goes on when we're not there."

I blinked, surprised. Was she really just calling me to chat? About me, of all things? She must have been really bored. Still, I was touched that she'd chosen to call me instead of. . . well, anyone else. I stood up and walked over to my bed, then settled back against the pillows for what might turn into my first-ever pointless phone conversation with a girlfriend. Yet another random way in which becoming a Billings Girl seemed to be paying off.

Maybe if I kept her on the phone long enough--got her guard down--I could ask her about Taylor. Find out what they had fought about, and whether or not Noelle had actually known Taylor was leaving early.

"It wasn't bad, actually, but today kind of sucked," I told her.

"Why? What happened?"

"The police dragged Josh off for more questioning," I replied. "They made it sound like they were back to square one with the investigation."

"And they think Josh knows something?" Noelle asked, sounding suddenly very alert.

"I don't know, maybe. They think he might have forgotten to tell them something that might help," I said, my heart turning over. "Actually, they sort of implied that they thought he might have purposely not told them something."

174

Silence. I expected a scoff or a laugh or some kind of reaction. All I got was silence.

"Noelle?"

"So what happened?" she asked.

"I have no idea. I haven't seen him all day," I replied. "God, what if they've had him holed up all day questioning him?"

"You seem more than a little concerned," Noelle said, suddenly sly.

I blushed and was happy she wasn't in the room to see it. Part of me would have loved to dish with a girlfriend about my new crush. But I already knew from my experience with Constance that this whole thing might not go over well. I didn't want to risk any negative feedback. Not when I still shivered every time I thought of our kiss.

"There's really nothing else to think about around here," I told her flatly. "I just hope he's okay."

"Don't worry. He'll be fine," Noelle said.

"Yeah, but--"

"Believe me. If anyone can handle an inquiry, it's Josh Hollis," Noelle said.

I froze. "What does that mean?"

Another beat of silence.

"Nothing. It's just Josh. You know Josh. He's the most mature person at Easton," Noelle said quickly. "He's more mature than most of the professors."

She wanted me to laugh, I could tell, but I couldn't. I couldn't shake the feeling she had meant something by her comment.

175

"Noelle--"

"Hang on." She covered the phone with her hand and I heard her shouting something, but it was muffled. Then, a moment later, she was back. "I've gotta go, Reed. We're late for drinks before the opera. It's kind of a family tradition. But I'll see you on Sunday."

"Wait a second."