Who to Believe by Edwin Hill

Author:Edwin Hill [Hill, Edwin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 26

“DAD, DO I HAVE TO GO TO THE PARTY? CHLOE ASKS ME AFTER WE finish pretending to fight. She sits on the side of her bed. “I thought I was grounded.”

I ruffle her hair. I’m the only one she still allows to do that, which is a win in my book. “You are grounded,” I say. “That’s why you have to spend the night with a bunch of boring old people instead of eating pizza by yourself. Besides, Noah will be there. It’ll be more fun than you deserve.”

And I’ll run interference with Georgia for her.

In my own room, I step into the marble-lined shower, turning on the massage jets. This shower, the bathroom, everything in the house is top-of-the-line, way fancier than I knew existed, let alone imagined having. I’m not used to how much nicer Farley’s shampoo makes my hair feel and smell. We’re running late, which might send him over the edge, but I haven’t forgiven him for the ice cream yet and I plan to eat and drink anything that comes my way at the party. I take a few extra minutes to spite him.

Out in the bedroom, a light green shirt and a pair of white pants lie folded on the bed under a note with my name, RICHARD, spelled out in neat script. This is the outfit Farley wants me to swap out for the jeans and sweatshirt I’d already chosen. He’s even attached a safety pin to one of the buttonholes to show me how to wear the shirt. I refold the clothing I’d chosen and squeeze into this new outfit. I fasten the shirt to where Farley indicated. It opens nearly to my belly button, and I’m grateful I got my chest waxed yesterday because Farley likes smooth skin.

I choose my battles. And besides, I do look kind of cute.

Out on the patio, Farley waits. I snap a photo with the bay in the background to post online.

“I think Chloe has a boyfriend,” Farley says. “Some kid named Jack.”

A boyfriend. Great. That’s the last thing I need. When Chloe emerges from the house, I picture her writing Jack on a notepad and scratching it out. I also remember her hiding a stash in her closet earlier when I walked into her room. “I forgot something,” I say. “I’ll meet you at the boat.”

I dash into the house and disarm the alarm system. Upstairs, in Chloe’s room, I shove aside a pile of sweaters expecting the worst: drugs, condoms, cigarettes. Instead, the blue cellophane of a package of Chips Ahoy greets me. And it’s open. I shove three of the cookies into my mouth before heading out to the boat.

* * *

“Nice shirt,” Damian says when we arrive at the party.

He tweaks my nipple, and I shove him, but I don’t mind, even as I catch Alice shooting me a glare. She hates the whole bromance thing. But here’s another secret: I wouldn’t mind if Damian tackled me to the ground—or went even further—because he’s kind of hot.

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