“Yeah, and each time he claimed to have not remembered it the next morning. It’s like he was testing her to see if she’d go along with it.”
“Has other stuff happened?”
“He’s rubbed her leg under the table when they’re having dinner.” Jackson’s jaw tightens. “Tried to reach under her skirt.”
“But she stopped him?”
“She won’t tell me how far it’s gone. She’s too embarrassed and ashamed. She wants it to stop but knows if she told someone they’d take his side over hers.”
“Even her mom?”
“Especiallyher mom. Daphne doesn’t believe anything Kristen says. That’s why Kristen needs evidence of Steven being with another woman. When she finally gets it, she can prove to her mom that Steven’s cheating and can get him out of the house.”
“Could Kristen catch Principal Edwards . . . doing stuff to her?”
“She’s tried, but she never knows when it’s going to happen.” Jackson reaches over and holds my hand. “This is why she’s at my house so much. It’s why she keeps clothes there. Why she spends the night. I swear to you nothing happens when she’s there. I’m letting her stay with me because she has nowhere else to go.”
“I wish I’d known this before. I feel really bad for her. I had no idea. She always acts so confident at school.”
“You can’t always believe what you see. Everyone thinks Kristen has this perfect life, but they have no idea.”
“Guess I should be nicer to her.”
“Not too nice. I don’t want her thinking I told you.” He checks his phone. “I need to pack up soon. You should text Shayla to come pick you up.”
I text her, and she texts right back.
Be there in a few minutes.
“I need to go,” I say to Jackson. “She’s on her way.”
He pulls me in for a kiss. “See if she’ll do this for us again. We can meet somewhere else next time. I don’t care where we go. I just need to see you.”
I smile as I unzip the tent. “I’ll ask, but you might need to convince her again.”
“That smile on your face might do it.”
I pause before leaving, looking at him one last time. “Jackson, I’m really happy right now. I didn’t think I would be after my mom died but . . . I am. I’m happy.”
He smiles. “That’s what I was going for.” He hands me the cupcakes. “Give a few to Shayla.”
“What about the flowers?”
“Probably shouldn’t take them home. Brock will ask where you got them.” He hands the flowers to me. “Give those to Shayla too. You can put them in here.”
He gives me the sack that had the soda.
Before leaving, I check outside the tent to make sure nobody’s around. There are people on the beach, but they’re by the lifeguard stands, a ways down from the tent.
I quickly walk down the beach so I’m not late meeting Shayla, but when I get to the parking lot she’s not there.
I text her.
Are you almost here?
Stuck in traffic. Accident up ahead. Be there as soon as I can!
I walk over to a bench close to the parking lot that looks out at the beach. The waves are huge today, and the water looks choppy. The sky is getting dark as though it might rain.
