Page 12 of Dead Girls Don’t Forget

“Not personally. But everyone knew who he was.” She paused. “Did you?”

“I just got here.”

“Right.” She chewed, thinking. “The thing that gets me is how clean it was. That wasn’t random. Whoever did it had a real reason.”

“People usually do.”

She pointed her fork at me. “Criminology answer. You sound like Sterling.” She tilted her head. “Think they’ll find who did it?”

I shrugged. “Who knows.”

She kept going, theories piling up. Halfway through her rant about the police chief, I felt him.

Cassidy followed my gaze and whistled low. “I would not mind climbing that tree.”

Jackson stood near the entrance, flanked by two broad guys. His eyes swept the room and locked on mine.

I forced my face blank, even as my pulse kicked hard. I could not afford to fawn over him. He was so far off-limits it was not funny. If he was anything like his father, we would have a problem.

Jackson looked away first. He grabbed a tray and headed for the wolves’ table. Naomi puffed up immediately, watching him like she had been waiting all day. He didn't seem to notice.

Cassidy resumed as if she had not just paused to drool. “Different subject. You have to come out tomorrow night.”

“No.”

“It’s a party. Everyone’s going.”

“I’m still not going.”

“You are.”

“Cassidy.”

“Harper.” She matched my tone. “You’ve been here almost a week and the only person you talk to is me. You need to exist in the world a little.”

“I exist plenty.”

“Track and the library don’t count.” She leaned forward. “One party. Two hours. You can stand next to me looking intimidating. You’re good at that.”

“No.”

She sighed theatrically. “Fine. This time. But I’m asking again next week.”

I picked up my tray and stood. “I know.”

Across the room Jackson was watching me again. A few seats down, Naomi’s glare could have cut glass. I headed for the door.

I spent the next two hours in the library working through Sterling’s reading before heading to the weight room.

It was half empty. I grabbed heavy dumbbells, plugged in my earphones, and settled into my sets. Squats, then Romanian deadlifts. The steady work usually quieted my mind.

Refusing to think about him lasted all of thirty seconds. So I added another set and focused hard on my form.

I was two sets from finishing when Naomi stepped directly into my line of sight and crossed her arms. I lowered the dumbbells and pulled one earphone out.

“Stay away from Jackson.”

Damnit. Now I was definitely thinking about him.