Chapter 19 #2
“At first, that’s all it was. Looking at her a certain way.
A few flirty comments. It was making Kristen really uncomfortable, which is why she started hanging out at my house.
Spending the night sometimes. Then about a month ago, she was watching TV with Steven and he came and sat by her on the couch.
He held her hand, and when she asked what he was doing, he said he was just being a caring father.
She knew it was more than that. The next day, she told him she was going away on a trip with her friend, but she was actually staying with me, hiding out. ”
“Has anything happened since?”
Jackson nods. “He went in her room during the night. She woke up and he was sitting on her bed, looking at her. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and when she told him to go away, he held her down and kissed her.”
“Oh my God,” I say, thinking how horrified I’d be if that happened to me. It’s like if I woke up and found Brock in my bed, forcing me down and kissing me. It’s so disgusting I can’t even think about it. “That’s horrible. What’d she do?”
“Screamed and told him to leave.”
“Did he?”
“Yeah. And the next day he said he didn’t remember doing it. He blamed it on the sleep meds he was taking.”
“I can’t believe he did that.”
“That’s why I got involved. Actually, it was sooner than that. As soon as she told me he was looking at her that way I knew I had to do something. Something to get her out of there.”
“So what’s the plan? What are you going to do?”
“I’m helping her catch him cheating. I found her an investigator and she hired him but so far, he hasn’t caught Steven in the act. He must’ve done this before because he’s good at covering his tracks. We haven’t even figured out who the woman is.”
“Have you considered the bookstore manager at Twisted Pine?”
“It’s not her. He was with her two years ago. He wouldn’t go back to her. It’d be too obvious.”
“Wait, do people know this? That he dated her?”
“Most people know. Someone found out and it spread. Rumors travel fast at Twisted Pine.”
“Is that why she got the job? Because they used to date?”
“Yeah, but nobody cares. It’s not like there are people lining up to work at a bookstore at a small private school.”
“Going back to Kristen, do you know if Principal Edwards has done anything else? After that night he went in her room?”
“Yeah, he tried again. He snuck in her room two other times.”
“But she got him to leave?”
“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?”
“Especially her 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.
“Ms. Halliway,” I hear someone say.
I look over and see Principal Edwards sitting next to me.