Page 100 of I Saw You First

I blow out a breath. “Stupid, I know.”

“Mine’s in a secret compartment in my childhood jewelry box. You know, the cardboard ones with the ballerinas?”

I laugh. “Just like in Silence of the Lambs.”

“Really original, I know.” She smiles for the first time tonight. “I came to the store tonight because I wanted to ask for a statement. Like if you knew something, your statement could help us. But now, I think that you should talk to my brother about the lawsuit.”

That hot rush of shame, embarrassment, and anger flows through me again. I don’t know if I want to relive this. But then I think about Carina and Tamsa and the other women who’ve spoken out against Ryan. And I think about my first night as a Hometown employee at Ground Round with John and his condescending attitude, and Tyrell, who thought it was okay to speak to me the way he did.

None of this is okay, and I’ve been silent about it for too long.

“Count me in.”

TWENTY-NINE

“KILLING IN THE NAME” BY RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, 1992

WIL

Sam meets me at Adventure Zone, an enormous building across the freeway from the Woodlake store with a bowling alley, climbing wall, laser tag, arcade, you name it, for an afternoon of fun with our Hometown League buddies. Hanging out with these kids is both a wild ride and a lesson in gratitude. It’s hard to be in a bad mood around them.

Usually.

Today, Sam and I are bowling with Liam and Charming.

“What’s your problem, man?” Liam asks after I knock down only five pins. “You suck today. Charming’s gonna beat us all, and he’s in a damn wheelchair!”

“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” I say.

“Oh, yeah?” Charming says. “This got anything to do with your chouchou at the store?”

“My what?”

“Chouchou. You know, your sweetheart. Your lady-friend. What’s her name? Abbey?”

“Good memory.” Sam steps up to the approach with his ball.

“She’s not my chouchou,” I grumble.

“Why, you screw it up?”

In a manner of speaking, yes. Yes, I did, Charming.

“Ooh, Wil’s got a lady-friend!” Liam sing-songs.

“Zip it and get ready to bowl, kid.”

Andre finds me later as I’m returning my bowling shoes. “Hey, how’ve you been?” he asks. “I haven’t seen you since Phoenix.”

I grunt in response.

“Kelsey feels pretty bad about what happened.”

“Oh, does she?”

“Yeah, man, seriously.”

“Must be the hormones. How are things at the League?” As much as I’m irritated with my sister, I’ve always liked Andre, and he’s innocent in all this.