It was annoying. I never felt important to him. He could never cut off communication with his friends, his bros, other girls…
Yeah. That was Robby’s biggest problem. Other girls. He liked them way too much. I was never enough for him.
Cass gives me directions and tells me where to turn as we go. His house is right on Hot Springs Road, and we’re high above town. The road winds through the quiet neighborhood that’s on the outskirts of town, climbing higher up the mountain, and we pass gigantic estate after gigantic estate. Some of them so big, you don’t even see the house, it’s set so far back on the expansive property.
When we finally arrive at his house, Cass asks me to pull into the driveway and so I do, stopping just in front of the ivy-covered garage. I put the car in park and turn to my left, sucking in a breath when I see the view spread out before me.
Nothing but glittering, deep-blue ocean as far as the eye can see. It’s gorgeous, the sun shining on the waves and making the water sparkle like it’s covered with diamonds. “Wow, what a view,” I say.
“Pretty nice, huh?” he asks. I turn to find him leaning over the center console, his face terribly close to mine. “When you look at it every single day, you don’t even realize how beautiful it is anymore.”
“Really?” My voice squeaks and I clamp my lips shut. I don’t want to make a fool of myself in front of him. I need to play it cool, like this is no big deal. I’m in a car with Cass. I’m at his house. Just another Friday afternoon, right?
Right.
Cass nods, his gaze flickering to the water. “You always take for granted what you have, know what I mean?”
Now it’s my turn to nod. He’s right. If I lived here, I wouldn’t care about the beautiful view, either. We have a minor ocean view from certain rooms in our house, but I don’t even notice.
“So I’ll see you tonight?” he asks, his voice huskier than usual. It feels very intimate, sitting in my car with him in front of his house, staring at the ocean and with him so close.
I nod again, then realize I should probably say something. “Yeah. Nine o’clock. I’ll be here.”
“You’ll remember how to get here?”
“Definitely. It wasn’t that difficult to find.” I smile at him and he smiles back, his eyes soft, his face almost…
Kind. And cute. And maybe even…
Sexy.
“See you in a few hours,” he says as he reaches for the door handle.
“See you,” I say weakly, watching as he climbs out of my car, slams the door, and slings his backpack over his shoulder. He gives me a little wave as I pull away and I wave back, not restraining the slow smile that spreads across my face.
I start plotting and planning what I should wear for my date/not date with Cass tonight the entire drive back home. Better to focus on my outfit than the fact that a serial killer might come to the party, too.
Yeah. I can’t stop thinking about that, either.
Chapter
Twenty
I trash my closet as I search through it, trying to come up with an outfit for tonight. I’m tossing sweaters and shirts and jeans and shoes all over the floor, muttering under my breath in frustration, until I finally find something that’s stylish and cute without looking like I’m trying too hard.
Once I have my outfit selected, I take a quick shower and then try to figure out how I want to do my shoulder-length brown hair. I decide to just quickly curl the ends, giving it those beachy waves that are so popular right now and Courtney is so good at doing.
Ugh. I frown at my reflection. Why am I thinking about Courtney now? But then again, how can I not think about Courtney? We’re going to her house tonight. My date is a guy she’s hooked up with.
I fight the tiny flicker of jealousy that lights up within me. How far did she take it with Cass? All the way? Has she had sex with this guy?
God, I really hope not.
And yeah, I’m not examining that thought too closely, thank you very much.
Grabbing my phone, I open up Snapchat and send Dani a quick text.
Me: Tell me what you know about Cass Vincenti.
I start to do my makeup as I wait for her reply.
Dani: I don’t know much. He’s kind of mysterious.
Me: Right. But do you have any clue who he’s been with?
Dani: Like r u talking girls?
I roll my eyes.
Me: Yes.
Dani: Hmm…
I’m rubbing tinted moisturizer into my skin when I hear back from her.
Dani: Listen. I know some stuff, but I was sworn to secrecy.
Me: By who?
Dani: By Gretchen.
My best friend has been withholding information?
Me: What did she say?
Dani: I swore I would never tell.
Oh. My. God.
Me: Dani! I don’t mean to be a total bitch, but she’s dead. What is she going to do if you tell me her secrets?
Dani: Fine. Fine. You’re right. I’ll tell you.
She leaves me open on read and doesn’t respond for another five freaking minutes. I’m practically dying from anticipation when I finally hear from her.
Dani: Whenever G’s parents caught her drinking or whatever, they made her attend a bunch of AA meetings as punishment. 1 night, Cass was at a meeting. Like, for real.
I frown.
Me: Really?
Dani: Yeah. Supposedly he had a serious problem a while ago, but he’s clean now. And he really wanted to help Gretchen. That’s how they got so close.
Me: Did they hook up?
Dani: Not that I know of, but you know Gretchen. So yeah, they probably did and she didn’t tell me.
I drop the phone on the counter and stare at my reflection. I almost wish Dani hadn’t told me about his problems. He’s a recovering addict? Was it just alcohol? Or did he have a drug problem, too? I’ve heard some rumors. And how am I supposed to ever bring that up? I can’t, so I have to sit here with the knowledge and pretend I don’t know this very intimate detail about his past.
For all I know, he might still have a problem. And what if he does? What if he’s some drunken druggie who’ll lose his shit tonight at the party and make a fool out of himself? And me?
A shuddery sigh escapes me. I need to think positive. Cass has been nothing but nice to me, if at times a little too enigmatic. I’ve never seen him act high or drunk, and he wanted to come to this party with me to protect me. I have to remember that.
Not everyone is out to get me.
I finish putting my makeup on, lightly spritz my curled hair with hairspray, and then go to my closet, where I clean it up somewhat before slipping on the outfit I’m wearing tonight. I’m keeping it simple with a black oversize sweater and skinny jeans paired with black knee-high boots. I put on a long pendant necklace and the diamond earrings my parents gave me on my sixteenth birthday. Staring at myself in the full-length mirror on the back of my closet door, I think I look pretty good, considering all that I’ve gone through the past couple of weeks.
There’s a knock on the door and I step out of my closet just in time to see my sister Peyton step inside the room. Her face is pale, her brown hair pulled into a messy bun on top of her head, and she’s wearing a UC Santa Cruz hoodie that our brother got her for Christmas the year he started there and a pair of battered jeans with dark gray Uggs on her feet.
Typical college attire, when my sister used to dress to perfection every single day in high school. I’m still not used to sloppy Peyton, but I’m so glad to see her, I don’t really care.
“Penny!” She lunges toward me and envelops me in a fierce hug, pulling away to stare at me, her hands clutching my shoulders. “Sorry I haven’t been able to come home until this weekend. Midterms were killing me.”
“It’s fine. I’m just glad you’re here.” I smile and hug her again. I love my sister, especially now that she’s out of high school. We used to fight like crazy and still do on occasion, but for the mos
t part, we get along. “How are you?”
“I’m good, but don’t worry about me. I want to know what’s going on with you and at school.” Peyton frowns. “First Gretchen and now Lex is dead? What’s happening? Has anyone been arrested? Are you scared to go to school?”
We go sit on my bed and I explain everything as best I can, including when the detectives questioned me and how Courtney’s having a party tonight. I even tell her about my encounter with the detectives earlier in the parking lot, when I was with Cass. She’s frowning by the time I finish, her eyes full of concern.
“Who exactly is this Cass guy?” she asks.
“He’s someone I go to school with. We’re in physics together.” I shrug, going for nonchalant, but my sister has always been able to read me like a book.
Peyton smiles and nudges me in the shoulder with hers. “You like him?”
I shake my head, then shrug. “Kind of.”
Okay fine, I do.
I totally do.
“Is he on the football team?”
She sounds just like Mom.
“No, he doesn’t really play sports, that I know of.” I shrug again. “He’s just a guy, you know? Kind of quiet, keeps to himself.”
“One of those secretive, mysterious types? They can be very appealing,” Peyton says with a naughty grin.
“Stop.” I shove her shoulder and she falls away from me with a laugh.
Thankfully, she drops the subject. “And so this big, crazy party at Courtney’s tonight—you’re not going, are you?”
“Well…” I let my voice drift, and I wince when I see the scowl on Peyton’s face. “I wasn’t going to, and Court told me she didn’t want me there.”
“Why?” Peyton’s frowning, but I’m sure she gets it. She went through the same drama during her high school years.
“You know how it is.” I shrug. “Cass told me we should crash it. Dani said she could get me in.”
“Will that make Court angry?”
“Probably, but isn’t she always angry?” I smile, but Peyton doesn’t smile back. “I don’t agree with her having this party. I think it’s wrong because of what—what happened.”
“You mean Gretchen and Lex?” Peyton’s voice is low, almost a whisper, and she looks really sad.
I nod. “I can’t believe they’re gone.”
“Me either.” She looks away, her gaze contemplative. “Listen, Penny. I don’t want to tell you what to do, but I don’t think it’s smart to go to that party. And I know for a fact Mom and Dad won’t let you go.”
“They know about it?”
“Well, yeah. Mom said the school sent out one of those automated texts warning parents about the party and how they shouldn’t let anyone go.”
Oh. My. God. I’m never going to be able to leave the house. How am I going to do this?
“It’s just a party,” I say weakly, pressing my lips together when Peyton sends me a look.
“Yeah, at the house of a girl who you’re currently fighting with. And considering it looks like the Larks are being targeted, I don’t think it’s smart to go out tonight.”
“It’s not like I’ll be alone,” I mumble, looking down at the ground.
“It doesn’t even matter because Mom won’t let you out of the house anyway.” Peyton rises to her feet, that smug expression on her face irritating the crap out of me. “You get to stay home tonight. It’s for your own good, little sister.”
With that, she walks out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
I flop backward on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I can’t believe the school sent out that text message. Rolling over, I grab my phone off my bedside table and immediately send a Snapchat text to Cass.
Me: I’m a prisoner in my own home.
Cass: What do you mean?
Me: Did you hear about the text alert the school sent out about the party? My parents got it. I don’t think they’re going to let me go.
Cass: Have you asked them?
I frown up at the ceiling. No, I haven’t. I snap a quick selfie pic, set it to three seconds so he can’t check out my date outfit for too long, and caption it BRB before hitting send.
Climbing off the bed, I leave my room and head out to the living room, where Mom is sitting watching the evening news. And great, they’re talking about Lex and Gretchen.
Mom hits pause on the DVR the moment she sees me. “Penny. You look pretty.”
“Thanks.” I smile weakly. “Dani and I are going to the movies.”
Peyton is slouching on the couch, glaring at me silently. I send her a pleading look.
“Really?” Mom arches a brow, holding her phone up. “I got an interesting text from the school earlier.”
“Yeah. Right. About Court’s party?” When Mom nods, I continue. May as well face this head-on. “I’m not going. Court and I got into an argument and she doesn’t want me there. Which is fine by me, because I don’t want to go. It’s really awful that she’s doing this.”
“I should think so.” Mom sniffs, her upper lip curled in disgust. “And her parents are okay with it?”
“They’re out of town.” Turns our Mrs. Adney was never able to get a hold of them and tell them about Courtney’s plans. They ignored her calls because they were already on the plane and on their way to their vacation destination.
“She’s always been a girl who likes to push people’s buttons.” Mom shakes her head, her worried gaze meeting mine. “Promise me you’re not lying about going to the movies with Dani.”
Shit. “I’m not lying,” I say with the straightest face possible.
And unbelievably, Peyton doesn’t say a word.
“You’ll come home right after? What are you going to see? And what time is the showing?”
“Um.” It takes me a second, but I rattle off the name of a movie I really did want to see, along with a realistic time. I hope Mom doesn’t double check me. I feel horrible about breaking her trust, but everyone is making such a big deal about this.
Plus, I want to spend more time with Cass.
“I might spend the night at Dani’s,” I tell Mom after I grab my purse and phone from my room and come back out to the living room. “Where’s Dad?”
“At a dinner with business associates. I begged out of it so I can spend some time with Peyton.” She sends me a sad look. “I was hoping to spend time with both my girls tonight, but looks like you’re skipping out on us.”
Thanks for laying on the guilt, Mom. “We can hang out tomorrow, right? How late are you here till, Peyton?”
“I go home Sunday.” Peyton stands and walks toward me, her gaze direct. “Call me or text me if anything happens, okay?”
The silent message she’s sending with her eyes tells me she’s got me covered, but she doesn’t like it. But crap, she owes me big. I don’t know how many times I covered for her in the past. Over some real crazy stuff, too. Outrageous parties that got busted by the cops and people were arrested. That one time she went skinny-dipping with her boyfriend in the ocean and beach patrol caught them. She almost got a public indecency charge for that one. I lied to Mom and Dad every time, telling them she was at one of her friends’ houses.
My sister envelops me in a hug, whispering close to my ear, “Be careful,” before she releases me. I hug Mom and then I’m walking out the door, a free woman for the night.
I remember to text Dani real quick and let her know about my movie lie so she can cover for me in case Mom contacts her.
The night air is cold, and I shiver, coming to a stop by the driver’s side of my car. It feels like someone is…
Watching me.
Slowly, I glance over my shoulder to find our neighbor across the street standing in his driveway, his annoying little dog running circles in the lawn. Mr. Yamaguchi is watching me, his hands in his front pockets, that beat-up old fisherman’s hat he’s always wearing propped at a weird angle on his head.
I lift my hand in a half-hearted wave and call out, “
Hi, Mr. Yamaguchi.”
He waves back just as his dog notices me. The little jerk comes to a stop and starts yapping ferociously, like he can take me down. “Good evening, Penelope.” Mr. Yamaguchi pauses. “Nice night for a party, isn’t it?”
Unease slips down my spine. Does he know about Courtney’s party? How could he? He’s, like, eighty years old. “I’m going to the movies,” I tell him. Why, I don’t know. To cover my alibi?
“Have fun with your boyfriend,” Mr. Yamaguchi yells over his still yipping dog.
I don’t bother telling him I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t bother saying anything else to him at all.
Instead, I hop into my car, back out of the driveway, and head toward Cass’s house.
Chapter
Twenty-One
As I’m driving to pick up Cass, I realize I don’t have his phone number.
Well, I have that number he texted from anonymously, but when I tried it earlier, I got no reply.
I tried texting him on Snapchat but he never responded. Once I get to his house, I park in front of the garage just like I did earlier this afternoon and check my Snapchat. No reply from Cass. So I sit there and wait for a few minutes, hoping he will see my car lights and come out to meet me, but he doesn’t.
Crap.
Reluctantly, I turn off the car’s engine, climb out, and go to the front door, nearly tripping on a cracked part of the sidewalk. There’s a fog bank hanging over the ocean tonight, so I can’t see it. Instead there’s an eerie white glow that has settled over the water, the moonlight casting it in a silvery sheen.
A single porch light is on, but it’s dim. Up close, I can tell the house needs a new coat of paint. And the ivy covers almost all the exterior walls, giving it a cool, hushed feel. I hit the doorbell but nothing happens, so I knock on the door instead.
“Coming!” shouts a little voice from inside.
I’m guessing that’s his grandma.
The door swings open and I glance down to see a white-haired woman barely five feet tall. She’s wearing a black velour Juicy Couture tracksuit, something my mom ran around town in ten years ago, looking very casual chic.