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“Why are you telling me this?” I didn’t need the visuals.
“Because I don’t think it was Jake. The more I try to piece it together, the more all I see are shadows. I wasn’t the first girl roofied this summer. It happened to some of the others, too. Always at one of the parties. We just assumed we got black out drunk. Jake said he got pretty blasted that night—when I asked him about it.” Maria shook her head. “Look, the point is—I don’t think the guys did it, but they aren’t the only ones who were there, and every girl I know who was roofied was on their score cards.”
“God, Maria. Are you all right?”
“I’ll be fine…I just want to know who. Jake always wore a condom. Always. This guy…he didn’t.”
Shit.
“I got tested,” Maria admitted. “So far so good. That’s something.”
Was this what Sharon wanted Maria to tell Jake?
“Did you tell Jake what happened?”
“No,” she said firmly. “I’d prefer if you didn’t tell him either.”
“Was Sharon…?”
“No,” Maria said with a shake of her head. “She apparently was one of the lucky ones. Cheryl and Patty, not so much.”
Cheryl…
Cheryl was one of the score points.
My stomach bottomed out. “Wait…she said Mitch forgave her for the summer. She had to be forgiven for being roofied?”
“Like I said, not a great guy.” Maria sighed. “I’m sorry I’m dumping this on you now, but you’re seeing one of them. If whoever this dick is wants what they have…you would be next on the list. I want you to be careful.”
Heart slamming against my ribs, I wavered between shock, outrage, nausea, and tears. “I’m so sorry it happened to you.”
Maria gave me a small smile. “I’ll be okay. I told my mom…after I figured it out that it probably wasn’t Jake and that…it wasn’t that I had too much to drink.”
My mother would have slapped me or given me a derogatory remark. The fact the thought popped up unbidden was another reason to swallow back the lump in my throat.
“She’s great about it…really great, and I’m talking to someone. Frankie, I know Sharon was an epic bitch to you, and I tried to warn you off Jake, and I know Patty has. Maybe we’re selfish, I liked things with Jake before. But it would never be the same, you know?”
No, I didn’t, but yeah, I could imagine. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Be careful. Of being around them. And of them.”
They weren’t going to hurt me. Not like that. They would never. “I know they didn’t do it. Maybe I didn’t know about the points thing before, and I know they can be dicks.”
A faint smile touched Maria’s lips. “Yes, they can.”
“But they wouldn’t hurt someone like that.”
“I know you’re right, but it’s hard. When Jake…called me about the post and I begged Sharon to take it down, it had nothing to do with you.”
“No, because…” Oh jeez. I felt awful for her.
“Exactly. But I couldn’t tell Jake that, and so I did my best. Jake’s…he’s crazy about you. I don’t know why you’ve never noticed, but no one could ever compete with you. So make sure they look after you tonight. Okay?”
“Hey…” I narrowed the gap between us. “You, too. If you need me for whatever reason, you call me or come find me. I’ll have your back.”
When Maria hugged me I returned it. “I’m really sorry, Maria” I murmured against her.
“I’ve missed you,” she replied. The hug was over almost as soon as it began, and she headed to her car.
