how to thank him. Patting him on the back is insufficient, but he gives me a chin lift to let me know he understands my intention.
Swallowing, I attempt to eat the rest of my food, but it’s lost its intrigue. Ricardo could have given me to the police this morning, but he didn’t. How will I ever repay him for that? I don’t think pretending to be his girlfriend to help him avoid his mother is going to cut it. Taking a sip of my coffee, I focus on things I can control.
Across the eatery, Grady is eating at a table with a few others. I stand. I’ve been meaning to talk to him since I found out about Rhiannon. They used to date, so I can’t imagine how he’s doing since she passed away in rehab. Guilt twinges in my chest. I probably should have spoken to him sooner, since I’m not blameless in the circumstances.
The walk between our tables is short, and I’m standing at his back wearing a sympathetic smile. I don’t usually do this sort of thing. Being sympathetic is not one of my gifts. “Hey, Grady?”
He turns around, and his brow furrows. “Charlotte? What’s up?”
The girl next to him turns around and places a hand on his shoulder.
I try to stifle the surprise of seeing Gul with her hand perched on Grady’s bicep. She’s marking her territory. I had no idea they were dating. How did I miss that?
Mentally refocusing, I push ahead. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry about Rhiannon. That must be hard for you, especially with Professor Rook’s death.” I don’t add the part about Rhiannon’s family not getting justice against the man who got their daughter hooked on pills.
With effort, Grady shrugs. “Honestly, it’s been rough. She ghosted me after her parents refused to let her come back this year, and then once she went into rehab…” Grady looks weighed down, sad, eyes red-rimmed. It’s not surprising. He and Rhiannon seemed to be in love. They were so cute together, always holding hands and whispering in the hallways. Despite the odds of meeting your match in high school, I actually thought they might be forever. How wrong I was.
He continues. “We hadn’t talked in months. It sucked, you know? But Gul’s been great.” Grady gives her a half-hearted smile. Something in my stomach twists. It must be bothering me, deep down, to see someone acting like a caring boyfriend so soon after my breakup with Kenneth. Who, I might add, never seemed to care about me as much as I did for him.
Adrienne pointed it out after we broke up, and she was so right.
Now my ex gets to see Ricardo and me acting all cozy in the halls every day. Suck on that, Ken Doll. “I’m glad you have Gul to support you. When did you start dating?”
Gul smiles, her perfect cat eyeliner making her look even more feline. “Over winter break. We bonded over being stuck here while our parents were away for work.”
Gul’s been pretty quiet the past few days. She hasn’t stuck her nose into my business at all, which is unusual. I had wondered if she’d finally gotten her fill of gossip, with Professor Rook’s death giving her fodder for rumors for months, but maybe she’s been busy with Grady instead. Plus, he hadn’t arrived when the accident happened, so she’s had plenty of time to fill him in on all of her theories and speculation.
I excuse myself, and reclaim my seat beside Ricardo.
“How’s Grady doing?” Genevieve asks, so I tell her.
“Hey, Char. I need to talk to you.”
I whirl around to find Kenneth standing right behind me, in the middle of the eatery.
Of course, we have an audience. Everyone at the tables nearest ours is watching, waiting to see what I’ll do. By this time, everyone knows the hottie intern in the health center is my former boyfriend. It hasn’t escaped my notice that whenever he’s outside the health center, he’s always surrounded by girls asking for “health advice.”
Ricardo turns in his chair and twines his fingers in my ponytail, giving it a gentle pull. Tingles ripple across my scalp.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t put up with the territorial crap Ricardo is pulling, but the flicker of jealousy in Kenneth’s eyes makes it worth it.
My fake relationship is actually working! But even as the warmth of victory settles in my chest, another thought occurs to me. Kenneth was never serious about me. So why