who has come into your life. Anyone who has taken a new shine to you cannot be trusted.”
Holy shit. There’s no way this is the same, though. No. Way.
“Now,” says Vince. “Why don’t you tell these fine folks who you really are?”
He swallows hard, then he looks up.
“I’m Ryan Donovan.”
Vince walks around him and presses his blade to Ryan’s throat.
I know what’s about to happen.
I look away just in time.
PART TWO
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I’m freaking out.
It’s the night of the dance that Jason invited me to.
And I think I’m going to go. Even knowing what I do now.
He’s part of the Friend Scheme. A Donovan. I know it in my gut. That means someone in his family shot my dad. He might’ve even done it, for all I know.
He lied.
My first true friend, and it was all a lie.
All he wanted was for us to become friends, to learn about my family, through me. It fits too perfectly to not be the case. It explains why he wouldn’t give up his last name, why he asked me about my family, and why he even talked to me in the first place.
I know what I should do. I should tell Dad everything, starting with meeting Jason in the bathroom of the bar.
The diner. Swimming. Hanging out at my place.
I need to tell him about all of it.
I haven’t done anything wrong yet. Sure, I snuck him into our house, but I was with him the entire time. He couldn’t have done anything. Right now, I haven’t messed up at all. I fell for the scheme, sure, but they can’t get too mad at me for that. What I do now is what really matters.
I have to tell Dad. But I know what’ll happen if I do. It’ll lead Vince or someone else to Jason.
They’ll kill him.
I also haven’t been able to stop thinking about Ryan Donovan. I’ve been adjacent to death for so long, but that was the first time I saw it up close. I mean, I looked away, and didn’t look at him again. As a crowd we quickly moved away, because death is necessary but ugly. Vince and Tony, along with Luke, dealt with the body (burned, to leave no evidence). I waited in Luke’s car.
Someone I sort of know was murdered.
And I’m supposed to not care about it.
I do, though. So much. I haven’t been able to sleep properly, and the sleep I do get is plagued with nightmares. I’ve pretty much given up on eating; it makes me feel too queasy. I think I’ve lost a few pounds, as I can now see my ribs jutting out even when I’m in a T-shirt.
I think that’s part of the reason I’m not mad at Jason. He might’ve tried to trick me, but a man died.
It puts things into perspective.
I mean, I am angry at him, but that’s not my main emotion. Mostly, I’m confused. Because our connection feels so real to me. Even knowing about this scheme, it still feels real.
Maybe he’s just a really good actor.
So I want to talk to him. Because I need to be sure about this. Like, maybe this is all in my head. Maybe he isn’t a Donovan, and it’s just a coincidence it lines up so well. Because if he’s been trying to betray me this whole time, he’s a freaking incredible actor.
I’m going to hear him out. But there can’t be any more secrets between us.
He needs to tell me who he is.
* * *
I have a plan. I’m going to talk to Jason tonight at the dance and find out who he is. If he’s a Donovan, I’m going to drop him from my life. I’ll ghost him if I need to.
Simple as that.
If he’s not, which I so hope is the case … then I’m going to continue on as normal.
Although even that might be risky. What if he lies? If he truly is part of the scheme, then letting him know I’m onto him could be dangerous.
Plus, I can’t let Dad or Luke know where I’m going. They know about the Friend Scheme, and are sure to be wary about anyone new in my life. Even if he says he isn’t a Donovan, he’s still someone new in my life, so Dad won’t let me hang out with him.
I need to lie to everyone, basically. And I’ve never been good at that.
I’m wearing my white shirt and my black pants, along with dress shoes. In my backpack, I