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I clap my hands. “This fast thinking is how you keep ranking in the top five in the school. If push comes to shove, I’ll reveal the relationship, admit I’m biased, and let it all crash that way.”

“Wow.” She gives me a once-over. “This is more brutal than I thought you had in you. Hate to say I’m impressed, but I am.”

Shame floods me, and I grimace from being complimented by Rachel of all people. “Save it, I’m just doing my job.”

“Good,” Rachel says, leaning down and grabbing the binder, then shoving it at my chest. “You better keep doing it.”

“Everything okay here?” A soft male voice says before a thick, muscled body appears between Rachel and me.

She looks up at the boy wearing a football letterman jacket and gives him a disgusted look. “We’re busy here.”

The curly headed blond turns to me, and I catch sight of the angled face, thin nose, and pierced, thick eyebrow for just a moment before he turns back to Rachel. “It looks like the conversation is pretty much finished.”

Rachel sizes him up, then looks to me. “Didn’t realize you needed backup for a simple conversation.”

“I think we were done anyway,” I say.

“I’m not sure we are,” Rachel says, “but we’ll see you around.”

She and Chloe turn the corner, and I position myself in front of the football player. “I know you,” I say, my brows furrowing. “Jamie, right? Theo’s cousin?”

“And I know you,” he answers in a smirk that reminds me of Theo. “Violet, Theo’s friend.”

Not sure why he emphasized that last part, but I move on. “Okay,” I say, “not that I don’t appreciate the interruption, but I was okay, and, um, is there a reason you intervened?”

“I actually was coming here to talk to you,” he says, “if you have time.”

I point to myself. “Me?”

He laughs. “Yes, you. I think it’ll help you with Theo’s case.”

“Ahhh.” I nod. It’s the only reason that makes sense he’d talk to me. “Sure, I have time.”

He grabs my arm. “Theo doesn’t know I’m talking to you. He’s dramatically protective, and he doesn’t want me near the case.”

I still. “And why is that?”

He sighs. “It’s a long story.”

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll get my notes ready.”

CHAPTER 19

Theo Hudson

Theo Hudson

Theo Hudson

Theo Hudson

All week at school, I brace myself.

Though I told Rachel getting close to Theo was all a part of my plan in case the trial went south, it was right to call Rachel’s bluff; a good lawyer knows there’s no such thing as a 100 percent solid chance on anything. Rachel could still decide to get me in trouble anyway. With every beep before an announcement, I wait for my name to be called to the dean’s office. Whenever the door opens in class, I think he’ll show up himself to escort me there. I check my phone for emails from him, letters of suspension.

The more time that goes by, the more my worst-case scenarios get. It’s been weeks, and aside from glaring looks, bumping my shoulder in the hall, or interrupting me whenever I had a question in class, Rachel hasn’t made a move.

The bell rings and I jump. Theo, who came in too late to sit beside me, walks from his back seat to me. “Why do you look like you’re being haunted and bracing yourself for possession?”