Mr. Fletcher’s grim expression tightened the knot in Gray’s stomach as they walked the quiet hall. “Did something happen? Is my grandma okay?”
“She’s fine. This is another matter entirely.”
“What’s wrong then?”
The man didn’t answer. Gray was about to ask again when he caught sight of the school principal, Mr. Donovan, standing by Gray’s locker, watching them approach. A black plume of dread spread through him.
Mr. Donovan frowned. “Gray, I need you to open your locker, please.”
“What’s going on?”
“Open it, please.”
Fine. He had nothing to hide. Gray put in the combination and opened the door. He’d already cleaned out his locker, so it was empty save his book bag.
“Open your bag, please.”
What in the world did they hope to find? Drugs? A gun? It ticked him off to be singled out this way. But it also scared him to death because the future seemed so promising right now. And if he’d learned anything in life, it was that things never worked out his way.
He unzipped the two compartments and set the bag in Mr. Fletcher’s outstretched arms. While he held it Mr. Donovan rifled through it. Gray kept a neat bag and knew exactly what was in it. His chemistry textbook, his English journal, a water bottle, his phone and charger, a ChapStick, a gel pen, and two yellow highlighters.
The principal pulled out the textbook and fluttered through the pages. A paper fell out and wafted onto the floor.
Mr. Fletcher picked it up, unfolded it, and aimed a frown Gray’s way. “You’ll need to come with us.”
The paper, Gray found out in the office minutes later, was the advanced test for AP chemistry. A rumor had apparently been circulating that hehad the test in his possession, and his teacher confirmed he’d scored an A+ on the final, his highest test grade in the class all semester.
It didn’t matter that Gray had never seen that test before or that he’d studied his butt off for weeks for that A+. The school’s zero tolerance for cheating meant Gray would get a zero on the final, tanking his grade, costing him the Warner Scholarship—and any chance he’d ever had at a college degree.
Chapter 31
Present day
“How are things going at the bookshop?” Logan asked, once the server brought their food. He’d chosen their favorite seafood restaurant for their date, and it was bustling with tourists and locals even on a Tuesday night. He looked handsome in a button-down that brought out the green in his hazel eyes.
Oh, how Shelby was dreading their upcoming conversation. “Business has been pretty good. The new products have been popular. We have a long way to go, but I’m very encouraged.” She dug into her seafood gumbo.
Logan tilted his head. “We?”
“The booksellers and me. It’s a team effort, of course. We finished decorating for Christmas today too. The Shop and Stroll will be here before we know it.” The whole community turned out to support the retailers on that day. It was like an extra Black Friday. “Did I tell you about Miss Phoebe and the preorder deal?”
“I don’t think so.”
Shelby explained the idea, going into detail but leaving off the bit about her excursion to the island with Gray, and the midnight rescue.
Caleb was still irritated with her over that. In any case, he and Liddy had committed to sticking around until after Thanksgiving—probablyjust to keep tabs on Gray, but Shelby couldn’t be sorry about that. She loved having him and Liddy in town. Loved having her friend stop by the shop at random times. Enjoyed grabbing coffee together on Sunday mornings before church. And she could hardly get enough of little Ollie. Plus the extended visit also seemed to have mollified their father for the time being.
Of course, with Thanksgiving coming up, all that could change. Family holidays could bring out the worst in people sometimes. Shelby hadn’t planned to be there. She was supposed to be heading to Charlotte with Logan and his parents to spend the day with his grandmother. But all that was about to change.
Logan swallowed a bite of blackened salmon. “Sounds like you have things under control.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m hopeful. Even once we avert this crisis, we still have to maintain steady sales. We’re working on ways to ensure that.”
Last week she’d implemented another idea with Gray’s help: to-go orders. Their customers could order and pay for books online, then pick them up on a cart they set outside each morning. It was especially helpful for customers who had difficulty managing the shop’s stairs. Word was spreading quickly and most days they had a few orders to fill.
“My offer stands—I’ve got money set back and wouldn’t mind helping you over the hump.”
She offered a grateful smile. “That’s very thoughtful of you, Logan. I appreciate the offer, but I’d like to do this on my own. I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is in two days—and then Black Friday.” She’d have almost every bookseller on hand that day for the big sale they were running.
