Dotty raised her hands in front of her. “Oh, I don’t want to intrude. Sounds like you guys already have a group.”
I reached over and grabbed Dotty’s hand. “I promise I want you to come.”
Dotty nodded, her cheeks rounded with her smile. “I would love that. I hang out with my aunt some, but she is a bit intense for me.”
I whispered again. “And older.”
“Don’t tell her that. I used to think she was immortal. She has had the same angry scowl lines since I was five.” Her aunt started coming our way.
I smiled and looked at the table. “Okay, I’m going to see if I can get any of these right. Wish me luck.”
Her bright eyes met mine. “Good luck!”
“See you tomorrow. Merritt’s, 10:30 a.m.”
She reached over and grabbed my hand. “Thanks for the invite. You’re so kind.”
I internally flinched. How long did unkindness cling to a person? Was there a magical time frame where past mistakes were no longer a part of you?
I nodded. “K, tomorrow.”
Back at the black folding table, the groups of teachers ebbed and flowed around the objects. I looked at each item and my peers milling about the room, wondering who each item could belong to, from the red clown nose to a knitted sweater fit for a small dog.
I hadn’t gotten to know anyone here very well. That was partly on me for hiding from my past, partly on them with their cliques and groups, and my social anxiety seemed to cover the rest. I always worried I might annoy or inconvenience people when I inserted myself into a conversation. Or I would say something weird. So, I usually stayed thirty minutes and then I panicked and left.
It’s a real mystery why I don’t have more friends. I chuckled and shook my head.
I saw my item; it was a small red glass bottle of perfume. It was from the LUXE fall line four years ago. I got to work with designers on it and it was one of my few pleasant memories with the business. I shouldn’t have had any reminders of my past at the school, but sometimes a girl’s just lonely. It seemed inconspicuous enough. The LUXE brand written in gold didn’t help.
I recognized an orange sweater. It was often draped over a Minecraft backpack in my schoolroom. I picked it up, looking for a number.
“That’s cheating.” Adam’s voice was close to my ear.
I jumped and squeaked.
“You scared me.” I turned to see Adam grinning. “How am I cheating?”
“I’m pretty sure you are the only one that will recognize that it belongs to Danny,” Adam whispered in my ear, causinggoosebumps to raise along my spine. This man was dangerous. Especially if we wanted to be only friends. I mean, technically I said it first, but he agreed.
“It’s not cheating if I am using what I know,” I challenged back and set down the sweater. I put Adam’s name on number nine.
His smile grew as his eyebrows raised in challenge. “I found yours too.”
“What?” My stomach tightened. How? I reached for his paper. “Let me see.”
He held the paper out of my reach. “Are you trying to cheat by stealing my answers? I will tell Principal Dotty.”
“Dotty would be on my side.” She knew what it felt like to be new in a town full of lifelong acquaintances. I tried to pull his arms down from over his head.
Adam chuckled, but his arms didn’t drop. “Nice try,” he whispered near my ear, and my neck erupted in goosebumps. His arm muscles flexed under my hand.
Wait. What? I realized I was making a scene. I dropped my hands from his arm and stepped back.
Could he really have found out about my past? Would this be the moment that the other shoe finally dropped and everyone found out who I really was?
“What do you know?” I whispered as my shoulders sank, ready to admit my guilt.
He leaned away. “With a reaction like that, I’m thinking I should look for a murder weapon…” Adam’s eyes flicked to the table.
