“No kidding,” Vicky said, heartfelt.
Bette said, “I gotta go tinkle,” to which Jill snorted and said, “Why is that word so annoying?”
“’Cause it’s babyish.” Vicky’s gaze followed Bette as she headed for the restroom.
“What about you, Jamie?” asked Alicia. “Any guy in your world, now that you’ve heard about the miserable creatures in ours?”
“Nope.” Jamie drained her glass. Well, if Vicky was buying . . .
“You divorced?” Vicky asked.
“Widowed.”
“Really? What happened?” asked Alicia while the others all made surprised noises as well.
“Motorcycle accident.”
“Oh. No. Sorry . . .” Vicky lifted a glass to her and made a face to show she felt she’d stuck her foot in her mouth.
“It was a long time ago. Harley was a baby.”
“Harley is her daughter,” Vicky said. “Gorgeous girl. A sophomore. Fifteen?”
Jamie nodded.
“Tell us about him,” urged Alicia.
“There’s not much to tell. . . .” They were all looking at her expectantly, so she told them how she’d met Paul and eloped with him. She didn’t mention that she’d basically run away from her responsibilities, though the thought crossed her mind, as it always did.
Bette returned and caught the tail end of her story. “We all had ’em young, didn’t we?” She sighed.
“Sure did.” Alicia gave a sad smile. “Troy’s seventeen now. Just one more year and split custody’s over.”
Vicky leaned into Jamie. “She doesn’t like him being at that house.”
“Animal House.” Jill made a face.
Alicia immediately protested, “It’s not that bad. It’s just that there’s no woman there. Just Race and Deon.”
“Too much money, too little blood to the brain,” Jill declared.
“Oh, they have brains,” said Vicky. “They’re just lying, conniving bastards.”
“All the blood goes to the prick, not the head,” said Bette.
“Except Cooper,” Vicky said dryly.
“Except Cooper,” Bette agreed.
Except Cooper.
* * *
Harley listened to Marissa and her friends as much as the loud music would allow. Normally, she would jump in and dance like a maniac, but she was overcome with unnatural shyness. The girls were all dancing with each other and the guys were hanging around in groups. Everyone was looking at everyone else. Harley tried not to look at Tyler Stapleton and his group of seniors, but they were the center of attention. One of them, Greer Somebody, had broken free and was talking to some of the senior girls, Dara, Michaela, and such, who were clearly trying to figure out a way to break into the guys’ group.
Marissa’s group had wandered away from the DJ and were standing nearer the refreshments, cans of soda, chips, salsa, cookies, and Rice Krispies Treats dyed orange and black. Harley picked up a black one.
“Watch out, it’ll turn your lips black,” Marissa warned.
“Good.” Harley took a big bite.
“Hey,” Greer said, almost as soon as her mouth was full. He’d left Dara’s group to come to the refreshment table. “You’re new. I saw you today.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Harley nodded. It felt like a piece of puffed rice was caught in her throat.
“Where’d you come from?”
“LA,” she managed to squeak out. That piece would not go down!
She finally smiled, and Greer laughed.
“Your teeth are all black,” he said. “Here. Gimme some of that.” He picked up another black Treat and bit into it, then grinned like a jack-o-’lantern.
Harley grinned back.
Marissa was hovering nearby. She grabbed Harley’s arm and dragged her away.
“Hey,” Harley protested.
“Greer’s not somebody to hang with.”
“Why not?” Harley demanded.
“Because he’s a senior. The senior girls’ll get you.”
Harley let that sink in as Greer left their group and headed back toward the upperclassmen, where he grabbed Dara from behind, scaring her. She turned around and shoved him hard, at which he just laughed.
“Dara and her friends live to make our lives miserable.” Marissa pulled Harley back toward the DJ. Harley let herself be moved, recognizing the wisdom of Marissa’s advice. She saw Tyler Stapleton put a hand on Greer’s chest and push him away; not aggressively so, just to get him out of earshot of the others as he leaned down and said something in his ear. Greer said something back that caused them both to grin like devils.
“Something’s up,” Harley said.
“What?” Marissa followed her gaze.
“I don’t know. But something.”
“Whatever it is, we’re out of it. My dad’s here and I don’t want to get into any trouble or my mom’ll go batshit crazy and ground me, or worse.”
Harley looked toward the main door, where Marissa’s stepdad was talking to one of the women who was looking up at him in that way that older women did sometimes. Kind of eager and disgusting.
“Okay?” Marissa asked, a little tense.
“Okay,” Harley agreed.
* * *
The wine and superficial talk had given Jamie a headache. She finished her glass, tried to pay, was waved off, and Vicky poured her another before she could escape.
Jill lifted her nose and said, “I loved Emma. She was so smart. Sassy. I don’t know who could have it in for her.”
“I don’t know that they ‘had it in for her,’” Jamie responded. “She was just in the wrong place, the wrong time.” She wasn’t certain she really believed that, but she never liked anyone saying anything about Emma.
“Maybe they were after you?” Vicky suggested with lifted brows.
“Victoria.” Jill looked scandalized.
“We all heard that Jamie was supposed to be babysitting that night.” Vicky turned her attention on Jamie. “All I’m saying is, maybe they thought Emma was you.”
“You think I haven’t thought of that?” Jamie questioned. She tried to say it lightly, but her guilt was so deep that she couldn’t stop the catch in her voice.
“Oh, no.” Alicia, the sensitive one, shot Vicky a dark look. “Come on, guys.”
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry. Shoot me. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.” Vicky looked chastened.
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” assured Jamie. “I don’t really think it had to do with me. I agree that it could have been a burglary gone wrong. Maybe they didn’t know Emma was there. It didn’t seem like it at the time—it seemed so personal—but maybe that’s what it was. It’s just that the police have never figured out anything, and it stole Emma’s future.”
“Let’s not talk about it anymore,” said Alicia. “It’s . . . how long ago?”
“Twenty years,