27

Alice was struck by a sudden and acute awareness of her appearance. She hadn’t done her makeup or even brushed her hair, planning to sort it out during the bus ride. Normally, she wouldn’t dare let Adam see her like this. Every time they crossed paths, she made sure her eyeliner was sharp, her lashes long, and her hair shiny—meticulously arranged to appear effortless. If she even suspected Adam might see her, the effort tripled. Yet here she stood, bare-faced and disheveled.

“Adam?” Alice said, her voice faltering slightly. “What are you up to?”

He shrugged, his expression neutral but slightly amused. “Just taking the dog for a walk before school.” It was only then that Alice noticed Roxy sitting obediently by his feet, her pink tongue lolling out as she panted.

The second Roxy recognized Alice, her tail wagged furiously, and she bounded toward her, jumping up with muddy paws. Alice didn’t mind the mess; she adored Roxy and loved how the dog seemed to adore her back.

“Hey, sweetie!” Alice cooed, crouching to give Roxy a hug. The Labrador wiggled with excitement, her enthusiasm melting Alice’s initial awkwardness.

“Roxy, down,” Adam barked, his tone sharp. He clicked his tongue, and the dog immediately dropped to all fours, though her tail continued wagging like a metronome. “Sorry about that. She’s gotten you all dirty.”

Alice glanced at her jeans, now speckled with mud, and waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t care. I’m always covered in paint at college anyway.” She scratched behind Roxy’s ears, whispering, “You’re such a good girl,” while the dog lapped at her fingers.

As Alice stood, brushing the mud off her knees, a flicker of self-consciousness crept back in. She fidgeted with the hem of her jumper and mumbled, “I must look like a mess.”

Adam’s brow furrowed slightly, and he shook his head, his expression one of mild incredulity. “Nah, you don’t.”

The simplicity of his response left her both flattered and confused. She couldn’t tell if he meant it as a genuine compliment or if he just didn’t care enough to notice. Before she could dwell on it, the bus rumbled up to the stop, its brakes squealing in protest. Alice hesitated, gripping the strap of her bag tightly. She was hit with a sudden, almost overwhelming urge to kiss him goodbye. But would he find it weird? And what about the people on the bus? In a town this small, gossip spread faster than wildfire.

“Have a good day,” she said instead, her voice softer than she intended.

Adam nodded, his lips twitching into a faint frown. “Yeah.” He turned back toward the path, gesturing for Roxy to follow. “Come on, girl.”

Alice watched him walk away, her eyes fixed on the back of his head until he disappeared around the corner. The moment he was out of sight, her phone dinged. She glanced down, her heart skipping a beat when she saw his name.

“You look good.”

Her cheeks flushed as she stared at the screen, rereading the text until the bus driver honked impatiently. She hurried aboard, gripping her phone tightly like it might vanish if she let go.

Later that afternoon, after college, Joseph drove over to Alice’s house to pick up the ink she’d promised to bring but had forgotten. When he arrived, he tried the front door and found it unlocked. He sighed in relief, grateful that he wouldn’t have to hunt through the seventeen different hiding spots Alice had described the last time he visited.

Stepping inside, he was greeted by Jamie, who was sprawled on the couch. Jamie’s gaze swept over him appraisingly, his expression unreadable.

“Hey,” Jamie said, his tone casual but curious.

“Hi,” Joseph replied, feeling suddenly self-conscious under Jamie’s sharp green eyes. “I’m just here to grab the ink Alice forgot.”

“Well, I didn’t think you were here to burgle the place,” Jamie snickered, his smirk playful. “Want a drink? Alice will be back soon.”

Joseph hesitated. A drink didn’t count as flirting… right? “Sure, that’d be nice. Thanks.”

“Coffee? Tea?” Jamie asked, giving Joseph a sideways glance. For a split second, Joseph thought Jamie might add, “Me?” but the comment never came.

“Coffee, black,” Joseph said, his voice steadier than he felt. He tried not to stare, but Jamie had a magnetic quality that made looking away almost impossible.

When Jamie returned with the drinks, he sat in the chair next to Joseph’s, so close their legs brushed together. The casual intimacy of the gesture sent Joseph’s heart racing.

“So,” Jamie began, nudging Joseph’s leg with his own, “I need to have a little chat with you.”

“Oh?” Joseph asked, his throat dry.

Jamie leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. “My sister’s been sleeping with Adam Hargreaves, hasn’t she?”

The question hit Joseph like a slap. His mind scrambled for a response, but his mouth betrayed him, stuttering uselessly. “I—I… erm… I—”

“I can’t talk about this,” he finally managed, his voice weak.

Jamie’s eyes narrowed, though his smirk lingered. “Sure you can. You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

Joseph squirmed under Jamie’s gaze. “Why don’t you ask her about it?”

“Because I don’t want it to get weird,” Jamie said, his tone light but pointed. “And let’s be real, Mr. Gossip—you’re dying to spill.”

Joseph bristled. Jamie wasn’t wrong, but the accusation still stung. “Please, Jamie,” he said, his voice edging on a whine. “Don’t put me in this position.”

Jamie sighed theatrically, leaning back in his chair. “Look, my theory is that he’s blackmailing her, or she’s bribing him to be nice to me. Either way, I need to know what’s going on so I can deal with him.”

Joseph hesitated, his resolve crumbling. “Okay, but you have to promise this stays between us.”

“Scout’s honor,” Jamie said, holding up three fingers mockingly.

Joseph sighed heavily and spilled everything he knew, his words tumbling out in a reluctant rush. When he finished, he looked at Jamie with a pleading expression. “She did this for you. Please, trust her judgment. She’s an adult, and—”

Jamie cut him off with a sharp smile. “I promised, didn’t I?”

But as Joseph stared into Jamie’s eyes, he saw the unmistakable spark of scheming. No amount of pleading would derail whatever plan was already forming in Jamie’s mind. Joseph could only hope Jamie truly had Alice’s best interests at heart—and that whatever came next wouldn’t blow up in her face.