he’s trying to figure out how climb on top of the car to get away. Nicole stands to the side with one hand on the trunk and the other on her hip. He’s being a lot nicer than Hunter was with Nicole all over him.
“A bridal shop, Jason?” Becky asks as I join them. “Are you the groom or the best man?”
“He’s the groom,” I answer. “Now get off of him.”
“A three-way wedding?” Nicole asks.
“That would really ruin your day, wouldn’t it? If you must know, no. If you ever paid attention, Hunter and I are just friends. A concept you’ve never been able to understand.”
Hunter slides his phone back in his pocket. “Police are coming.”
I grin as Mom and Arissa come through the doors.
“What the hell is going on?” Mom asks.
“Now there are four witnesses,” I say to Becky. “Step off.”
She opens her mouth when a sheriff’s car pulls to a stop next to us. Perfect. They must’ve been nearby. Two uniformed male deputies climb out of the car and Becky finally steps away from Jason.
“We got a disturbing the peace call,” the driver says, hand on the grip of his gun.
I turn to Hunter and whisper, “Seriously? Disturbing the peace?”
“I didn’t know what else to call it,” he whispers in return, shrugging.
Mom points to Jason and Hunter. “Their ex-girlfriends keep harassing them.”
The deputies turn their attention to Becky and Nicole. “Step over here please, ladies.” Passenger Deputy gestures for the sisters to join them.
The sisters glance at each other and stroll over to the deputies without a word, who then take them aside to talk to them. We watch in silence. Driver Deputy leaves and joins the rest of us, interviewing each of us alone while Passenger Deputy keeps an eye on Becky and Nicole.
“How well do you know them?” he asks when it’s my turn.
“Becky bullied me in high school after Jason broke up with her. Nicole and her friends bullied me when I transferred to her school while I was in foster care. Becky stopped after she was suspended at the beginning of our senior year and started up again this summer. Nicole attacked me in the cafeteria the day I met her.
“I found out after leaving foster care that my social worker is their older half-brother. He was fired after my adoptive father filed a complaint, once I figured out he gave them information about me they shouldn’t have had.” I nod. “Yeah, that pretty much sums up how well I know them.”
“I see. And they’ve been harassing Jason and Hunter?”
“All of us.”
“Since high school.”
“Yes. The last time was while Jason and I were on a double date with my sister and her boyfriend. Before that, it was while bowling. They come out of nowhere.”
“Jason and Hunter have agreed to file domestic violence charges. Do you want to file civil harassment charges?”
“If it gets them off our back once and for all, yes.” It’s a no-brainer as far as I’m concerned.
He writes something down on his little notepad. “Thank you, Sara. Can you ask your mom to join me, please?” I rejoin my family and Mom takes her turn with Driver Deputy.
Arissa has her phone out, typing with both thumbs. I presume she’s texting Damian about the ordeal until I catch sight of an open app. Puzzle pieces click into place to finish the big picture. Again.
“Riss, have you been doing check-ins on that app when we go out?”
She looks up at me. “Yeah.”
“And you add my name and the guys when you do?”
“Yeah.”
I smack her arm. “That’s how they’ve been finding us!” It’s not random coincidence or special sonar. They watched Arissa’s social media to figure out where I would be with Jason and Hunter. “Do you realize that it could’ve been Victoria doing this at Tibby’s bidding?” I ask, angry, not really at her, but at her carelessness.
She’s the social butterfly, used to using social media to broadcast her life. I lived in isolation, so the thought of social media doesn’t appeal to me. It would also be an easy way for my biological family to keep tabs on me. Go figure that the Statton sisters used it the same way, but went through Arissa to do so.
“Shit! I’m sorry, sis!” She dumps the phone in her purse.
“You mean you’re the reason Nicole knows where I am?” Hunter asks, eyes narrowing at Arissa.
She puts her hands up, palms out. “I—I—I’m really sorry, Hunter.”
“I’ve taken a lot of shit from you since we met,