“I’m glad to know not everyone falls for her nonsense.”
“Trust me,” Alice says, leaning over the desk. “Kenley and I may have been friends at one point, but she’s g
one somewhere I can’t handle. Completely off the rails. Between the lies she’s telling everyone and promiscuous behavior…I think she needs serious help.”
“That’s unfortunate and sad. Acting out sexually can be a sign of low self-esteem and distress.”
The rage that consumes me is deep and hot. Did she just call me a liar? Promiscuous? What the hell is going on here?
Without thinking, I barge into the office. Both Chandler and Alice stare at me in surprise.
“Did you just call me a liar?”
“Are you seriously eavesdropping on us?” Alice retorts. The glint in her eye implies she’s amused by my interruption.
“It’s not like either of you were quiet,” I look between them. Alice has a smug quirk to her lips. Chandler watches me closely.
“Kenley,” he says, “I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to be here.”
“Yet it’s okay for you to be alone with a female student? After what you did to Rose?”
His jaw tenses, and those blue eyes that everyone adores flicker with darkness. “You’ve accused my wife of a murder attempt and me of preposterous behavior. Out of legal necessity, I don’t think you should be anywhere near me.”
“Maybe if you weren’t discussing me with other students, I wouldn't be.”
“Alice was speaking out of concern.” My ex-friend nods dutifully. “Your classmates are worried about you. It’s been a stressful few months for you—a breakdown is completely understandable.”
I roll my eyes. “A breakdown. Whatever, you two are completely delusional.” I stare at Alice. “You’ve been warned. The girls that spend time with Coach Chandler? One is dead, another missing, and a third is in jail. Those are bad odds.”
I don’t wait for either of them to respond before spinning on my heel and walking out of the office. I’ve tried before to help Alice and she didn’t want my advice then, and she made it clear she doesn’t want it now.
As far as I’m concerned, they can both go to hell.
My mood hasn’t altered by the time I get home.
“How was school?” my mom calls.
“Fine,” I mutter, heading to the cabinet for a box of cookies. Sugar. That’ll make me feel better.
“That ‘fine,’ huh?”
She says it lightheartedly, but my mom has been through the ringer the last few months. First Rose—then what Monica did to me. I arrange my expression into something more neutral. “No, seriously, it was fine. Just busy. I’m on the committee for the retreat.”
A frown tugs at her mouth. “Right. The retreat. You sure that’s a good idea?”
“Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?” I ask through a mouthful of cookie.
She leans against the counter. “It’s two hours away and with everything that’s gone on…I don’t know, I guess I don’t like having you that far away.”
“I’m going to college in eight months. Maybe farther than two hours away.”
She exhales. “You’re right.”
I walk over and give her a hug. “I know the past few months have been scary, but I’m okay. My friends will be there, and we’ll be well supervised. We talked about that today at the meeting.”
She squeezes me tight and releases me. “Okay. I know I’m just being dramatic.”
“You’re not, but maybe a little overprotective.”