LITMIR.BIZ

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saying it was all her fault.”

      Who would have beaten a sixteen-year-old girl? It had to be Heller. He was a classmate from the wrong side of town. He’d been in and out of trouble as long as Eliza and the others had known him. He and Jo had a thing going—against Eliza’s advice and April’s. But Jo was headstrong. No one could budge her when she made up her mind.

      “So spill, how was Shell?” April said.

      “Not as hot as he thinks, though his car is cool,” Eliza told her. “The day was a drag.” She’d only gone to get back at Cade for his defection. Could she have found another way?

      The phone rang.

      April leapt up and ran down the stairs. The only phone in the house was located at the base of the stairs. Eliza followed right behind her.

      “Hello…? Oh, yeah, she’s here.” April turned and held out the receiver. “It’s for you. Sounds like Chelsea.”

      Eliza hesitated a moment. She didn’t want to talk to Cade’s sister. Chelsea had been the one to tell her about Cade seeing Marlise again. Eliza hadn’t wanted to believe her—Chelsea was known for being a class-A liar—but she had gone to Marlise’s house when Chelsea had told her. And sure enough, when Cade had rung the bell, Marlise had opened the door and flown into his arms and kissed him. Eliza had seen it with her own eyes. The boyfriend she’d dated exclusively for months had been kissing another girl.

      “Hello.”

      “So you dumped my brother,” Chelsea said. She sounded worked up, talking fast.

      “If going out with Shell is dumping, then I sure did.”

      “Ha, you’ll be sorry.”

      “Yeah, how? Dumping a two-timer is the only way to go.” No matter how much it hurt. “You might consider that yourself.”

      “What are you talking about?”

      “Come off it, Chelsea, the whole school knows Eddie is cheating on you.” Cade would be furious that Eliza had told his sister her boyfriend was seeing someone else. They’d argued over whether to tell her or not. But Eliza no longer cared what Cade thought. Maybe telling Chelsea some home truths would show her she couldn’t have everything her own way.

      “He is not. He’s my boyfriend!”

      “Whatever. Why are you calling?” Eliza had no desire to prolong the conversation.

      “Cade wants to talk to you.”

      “About what?” Eliza asked. “There’s nothing to say. You were right, I saw him kissing Marlise.” So much for trust and loyalty. The pain struck again. How long would it be before she got over the betrayal?

      “I expect he wants to talk to you about your behavior,” Chelsea said with a syrupy tone.

      “Mine? What about his?”

      “You going to make up with him?”

      “No.”

      “Good.”

      “You going to make up with Eddie?” Eliza asked.

      “You’re wrong about him. There’s nothing to make up.”

      “Ask your brother if you don’t believe me. He knows it as well as I do. You two deserve each other.”

      Chelsea hung up.

      “She’s so weird.” Eliza placed the receiver on the hook and told April what Chelsea had said.

      “She’s hung up on her brother,” April observed. “She doesn’t want him to see anyone, just to pay attention to her.”

      “That’s creepy. Besides, she was going out with Eddie Palmer. Now he’s going out with Darcy.”

      “Yeah, well I think Chelsea’s a nut,” April said. “No wonder Eddie found somebody else. Look at all the times she’s called to get Cade home on some pretext or other. You’d think the guy would get wise.”

      Eliza felt she had to defend Cade. “He’s the man of the family. He feels responsible for her and his mother.”

      “For a crazy sister and a drunk mother? He’d better get that scholarship to Tulane and get the hell out of town when he graduates.”

      “We all want to get out when we graduate,” Eliza said. “This is a dumb town.” She sat a few steps above April on the staircase. “I want to know about Jo.”

      “As far as I can tell, we just have to wait until they get home to find out the scoop,” April said. “I already called some of Jo’s friends to see if they knew anything. No one did.”

      By six o’clock, neither Maddie nor Jo had returned to the house. April and Eliza fixed sandwiches for their dinner, eating in the kitchen, speculating about the different scenarios that would explain what had happened to their friend.

      The phone rang again.

      “Maybe that’s them now,” Eliza said, dashing out to the base of the stairs to answer.

      “Eliza?” It was Chelsea again.

      “What?” Eliza said in exasperation. “I need the phone. I’m expecting a call.”

      “Cade hates you. He never wants to see you.” Chelsea was gloating, no doubt about it.

      “Fine. I’ll stay out of his way. I’m not feeling too positive about him myself!”

      “I lied. My brother would never cheat on you. You’re the fool. Now he won’t forgive you. You’re history. But he’ll always be here for me, no matter what. He’s my brother, and we don’t need you pushing your way in, trying to take him from me.”

      “Chelsea, you’re crazy. I wasn’t trying to take him from anyone.” Eliza felt her heart drop. Had Chelsea really lied about Marlise? Or was she lying now? Eliza had seen Cade kissing Marlise with her own two eyes.

      “Forget him, he’s not for you.” The words were full of venom. “I’ll make sure you never get your hands on him again.”

      Eliza slammed down the receiver. She’d known Chelsea was a little wacko. She was also a drama queen. But she was Cade’s sister, and Eliza had always tried to be polite to her. If Chelsea had lied…

      The implication struck Eliza with full force. Cade hadn’t cheated—but she had. He would never forgive her. She should have asked him for an explanation, not gone off for the day with Shell, the guy with the worst reputation in school. Well, not the worst. Heller had that honor. But Shell was trouble from way back. His hands all over her today had proved that.

      April came into the hall.

      “Was that Jo or Maddie?”

      “Chelsea again. She said she lied about Cade and Marlise.”

      April gave a whistle.

      “But I saw them together.” Doubt niggled at Eliza. What if she’d made a mistake? She loved Cade. He was the best thing ever to happen to her. He was due to graduate in another few weeks, and she would follow the next year. They had been going together for months. He was kind, caring, sexy.

      But she had seen him kiss Marlise.

      “So talk to the guy,” April suggested.

      They heard a car in the driveway and hurried to the back door. Maddie got out of the old sedan. She seemed surprised to see the two girls at the door. A deputy’s car turned in behind hers.

      “Where’s Jo?” April asked from the doorway.

      “She’s in the hospital.” The older woman walked to the back door, looking ten years older than when they’d seen her that morning. “She won’t be coming home.”

      “What? She’s going to die?” Eliza couldn’t believe it. Jo had been healthy

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