Page 44 of What They'll Say About Us

I could see the emotion in her eyes and remembered that Sloane had lost her mother young and had never seemed to have anyone around at family events. In fact, Paige had taken her home for some of the holiday breaks. But she had a family now. "I'm glad you're happy. I saw the article you did in Chicago Living."

"That was Garrett's idea. He's in real estate development, and he worked closely with an architect to remodel our home. I felt so awkward doing that interview, but it was important to him, so I had to step up."

"You always preferred the shadows, while Paige liked the spotlight."

"You liked the spotlight, too, Tessa. That's why you two couldn't get along. Why you turned into enemies. You had so much in common, but in the end, that's what drove you apart. You both wanted the same thing, and only one could win."

"Looking back, I'm not happy with the way I acted."

"I'm sure you've changed. We've all changed. We've grown up. We're not those kids anymore."

"No, we're not."

"It's pointless to look back. That's why what you're doing now isn't going to help anyone; it's only going to bring back the bad feelings. As soon as I heard what you were doing, I felt that sharp stabbing pain of sadness and grief and the wish that I could have done something different."

"Like what?" I asked curiously.

She gave a helpless shrug. "Maybe I should have asked Paige directly about Professor Hale. Or challenged her about the drinking and the drugs. I could have told her parents that she was not herself, and I was worried about her. But I didn't do any of those things, and she's dead, and I can't change it."

"Paige made her own decisions. As I recall, she didn't listen to advice. She didn't let people tell her what to do."

"Another way she was like you. You both knew what you wanted, and you went after it. I wished I could have been more like that." She drew in a breath as she dragged herself back from the past. "Do you have other questions for me? I wish I knew something that could help, but I don't."

"When did you find out what happened to Paige?" I asked.

"A police officer came to the apartment shortly after they found her body on Sunday morning. They were looking for a way to contact her family. They had found her phone and case on the rocks, which contained her ID, so they knew her address, but didn't have the code to open her phone, so I helped them with that."

"Were you worried that Paige hadn't come home for two nights?"

"I wasn't worried the first night because she often stayed with Nate. It wasn't unusual."

"But Nate was out of town that weekend."

"I didn't realize he'd left on Friday until the next day. Then I got really worried because I didn't know where she was or who she was with. I kept trying her phone, but she didn't answer. I called a few of her friends from the theater, but no one had heard from her."

"You didn't call me."

"Well, I didn't consider you to still be her friend." Sloane paused. "She used to hang out with Carrie, and I did reach her. She told me she thought Paige had gone away with someone else, that she'd mentioned something about seeing her on Monday, but it was all very vague."

"I didn't realize Carrie and Paige were that close. Carrie was two years younger."

"But Carrie idolized Paige, and Paige liked her attention. They got pretty close those last few weeks. Carrie wanted to be just like Paige. And now she is doing what Paige always wanted to do—star in a play."

"I saw Carrie yesterday. She's not that great. I got the feeling Hale got her the role."

"You seem to think that Hale gets everyone their role," Sloane said with a tart note in her voice.

"Not everyone. He didn't want me in the lead until he had no other choice. But that doesn't matter."

"None of it matters anymore, Tessa. I know you say you want justice for Paige, but it feels like you're using her for drama for your podcast. You already hurt her when you became her rival and spread rumors about her. If you've changed, if you've grown up, then maybe don't use her death to get you more listeners."

Her words stung. "It's really not like that. I wouldn't have done this at all if Alina hadn't begged me to. I couldn't say no to her." I took a moment, then added, "And maybe I want to get Paige justice to make up for my actions back then."

"That just means this is still about you, Tessa." Sloane let out a sigh. "I think it's a mistake. But I can't change your mind. Like I said before, you and Paige were a lot alike in that regard. I never could change hers, either." She got up and walked out of the gazebo, standing by the edge of the bluff, her profile a mix of hard emotions.

I gave her a minute, then walked out of the gazebo, leaving some space between us. I didn't want to pressure her, but I still needed her help, and I knew she didn't want to give it.

"Sloane, I could really use your assistance. You knew more about Paige's life outside the theater than I did."