My fingers twist together in my lap.
Nervous tension settles over me.
I refuse to let him deal with this alone. I will find a way to help.
It’s late at night, and I have my phone in my hand. The bright light from the screen is the only light in my room, and it has a harsh glow. I should be asleep, but instead I am typing out a message to Talia.
Did you hear about everything going on with Simon, Jaco, and the Marcas family?
I wait, knowing it’s too late and she’s probably fast asleep like I should be.
But to my surprise, I see her come online and start typing.
I did. Is Simon okay?
I want to help him. And I have a plan, but I’m not sure if I can do it on my own.
What’s the plan? I also want to help Simon.My heart flips with relief and excitement. This might actually work with Talia’s help!
I met Lindsey at the gala the other day, and she was very talkative. I was thinking that if we could somehow bump into her and get her talking, she would eventually reveal something she shouldn’t. We can crack past Jaco’s lies and get it on tape or something?
That’s a brilliant idea. I’ll come fetch you in the morning. We can tell the guys we’re going shopping. Get some rest. I’ll see you around nine.
I read her last message, and relief washes over me. She’s willing to help me! Thank goodness. Now I can do something tangible to support Simon. He needs me. He might not know it. But he does. And I want to be there for him.
***
“There she is,” Talia whispers, staring through her oversized sunglasses toward the girl walking toward us on a busy street in the city.
“How in the world did you know she would be here?” I gasp.
It’s just past ten, and we’ve been sitting at a coffee shop, at a table outside on the sidewalk, for half an hour. The ice has already melted in my iced coffee, and I was beginning to worry that I was a stupid plan. But there she is. Lindsey. Walking right toward us.
“She’s a bit predictable, this girl,” Talia grins. “She would never miss her hair appointment, and it’s set for the same day every week as long as I have known she exists.”
Suddenly, Talia puts a massive smile on her face and calls out, “Lindsey! Is that you?” As she waves her hand in the air.
Lindsey pauses, hesitating, and she pulls her glasses down a little, squinting at Talia.
“Talia! Oh, my goodness! And Blair, how lucky am I to bump into you girls?” Lindsey says with the fakest smile in the world.
My skin becomes agitated as though something is crawling over me, but I force a smile onto my face as well.
“You look amazing, did you just have your hair done?” Talia coos.
“I did, isn’t it perfect?” she gushes. “Jaco insists that I look my best at all times,” she says, her smile faltering ever so slightly.What an odd thing to say.
“You have to sit with us for a moment. Have a drink?” Talia says, gesturing to the empty seat between us.
Lindsey tilts her head to the side, then glances nervously around. “Um, I suppose I could for a moment,” she says, taking a seat and setting her purse down on the table.
She orders a cranberry juice.
Talia starts chatting to her about beauty products and name brands I don’t know.
But Lindsey surprises us both by interrupting her general chit-chat to say, “Did you hear that the Marcas family is furious? Jaco told them that Simon attacked him yesterday. They want retribution,” she says, placing her hand over her heart as though she’s shocked.
I bite my teeth together, fighting the urge to shoutSimon didn’t attack him!