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“It’s not that, it’s…”
She squinches her brows together. “It’s what?”
How do I begin to explain? That his daughter and wife weren’t the only people he murdered. How can I explain Shadowface without scaring the living shit out of her. Even though I don’t fully understand who that is. It’s the name they blame when a dead body shows up and no one can find the killer.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
She pulls into herself. “No. You shouldn’t have.”
Okay. She’s fierier than I thought she’d be, which is kind of a turn-on. I wonder if anyone’s ever kissed her, or more importantly, what she’s like under that bulky dress.
“I should go,” she finally says.
I frown. “Why?”
“I shouldn’t be talking to you. My mama wouldn’t like it.” She meets my gaze.
“Well, luckily for me, she isn’t here, Didi.”
Her head tilts and brows arch. “Didi?”
“Can I call you Didi? I think it suits you. Or I could call you firefly.” She blinks twice, as if testing the name.
“Didi… Yeah, I suppose you can call me Didi, but not firefly.”
I grin. “Whatever you say, firefly.” I bite my lip to keep from laughing. The bell rings, but she doesn’t move.
“Okay, firefly. It’s time to go back to class.”
She squeezes her lips together and starts to crawl out, rubbing past me. I place my hand on her waist to help, and she freezes, sucking in a breath. Right, no touching. I pull my hand away, and she continues.
“Didi?” I whisper before she has a chance to disappear.
She turns to face me, a beam of light shining through the darkness, making her glow. “Yeah, Tommy?”
“Will you meet me here tomorrow? I’ll share my lunch with you again.”
A ghost of a smile hints at her lips. I get the sense Didi doesn’t smile too much. And if she gives me another lunch hour, I’ll happily take it and make her smile more.
“Yeah, I suppose.”
Then she disappears, leaving me alone in the dark. I lean back and watch her leave as an intense rush hits my core as if nothing else matters now but meeting her again tomorrow.
In the last few minutes, she’s somehow completely consumed my thoughts.
I’ll see you then, firefly.
REMINGTON
THE DAY OF THE JENKINS MURDER.
The late summer heat wraps around me like a warm hug, even as the early morning mist swirls in the air. The forest behind my house stretches for miles, and I bolt down the path where Tommy and I like to run. We’ve been running this path for years, and after last night, we need to sweat it out. We got wasted.
Tommy’s feet pound behind me as he puffs, “You’re not going to beat me, man.”
I glance back at him and grin. His face is beet-red, like a cherry. “Hell yeah, I am.”
I pause so he can catch his breath. He leans his head between his legs. “Screw you for making me do this.”
