I try to make my expression blank. “No, I don’t think so. I just moved here.”
Now would be a good time to make a gracious exit, before Kelli figures out who I am. But then her eyes widen into saucers, and I realize I’m too late.
“You’re that girl!” She snaps her fingers. “You’re… Bridget Something. You’re the one who got Shane Nelson sent to prison.”
Of course she’d get my name wrong, but remember the name of the handsome star quarterback perfectly. For a moment, I consider denying the whole thing, but it’s futile. She knows it’s me. “That was a long time ago.”
“That was total bullshit.” Kelli practically spits out the words. “I knew Shane. He was a good guy. He would never have done those things.”
I don’t point out to her that the object of her flirtation, Tim Reese, was even more instrumental in getting Shane sent to prison than I was. But Tim’s transgression was more forgivable than mine because he’s hot.
Anyway, I’m not surprised she’s defending Shane. This is nothing new—plenty of people in Raker, especially people who knew Shane well, were furious at me for testifying against him. Shane was a football star, and everyone loved him. I had been his girlfriend, and people felt I was betraying him. Even if I didn’t have to leave for other reasons, I could never have stayed in Raker after what I did to him.
But I had to testify. I had to tell the truth about that night and get that monster locked away for good.
“You weren’t there that night,” I say quietly.
“I didn’t need to be,” she retorts. “You got it wrong. Shane was innocent.”
“No,” I say, “he wasn’t. Believe me.”
Before she can say anything else, I turn my shopping cart and speed walk to another aisle. After everything I’ve been through, the last thing I need is some crazy girl stalking me in addition to all my other problems. I go through the aisles as quickly as I can, gathering the items from the shopping list, mostly from memory.
It’s only when I get into the car that I realize I forgot the Lucky Charms.
Chapter 15
ELEVEN YEARS EARLIER
“You went on a date with Tracy Gifford?”
Kayla’s voice is so screechy that if it gets any higher, only dogs will be able to hear her. But I can’t blame her because I’m feeling the same way. Tim went on a date with Tracy Gifford? How did that happen? In what universe did my neighbor go on a date with a dead girl?
“Two dates.” Tim looks like he wants to disappear into the folds of the sofa. “That’s it. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Not a big deal!” Kayla bursts out. I notice her thigh is no longer touching his. “I’m sorry, but that’s a very big deal.”
Tim squirms. “It’s really not.”
Brandon’s chiseled features are twisted in amusement. I always thought he looked like the handsome rich kid in every John Hughes movie. “I underestimated you, Reese. Nice going. Did you score with her?”
“No!” Tim’s face is turning red. “I told you, it was just two dates.”
“Exactly,” Brandon says.
“Christ.” Tim rakes a hand through his short hair, which is now sticking up a bit. “I’m telling you, it was nothing. Nothing. We met at the library, we got to talking, and we went out two times. Then she stopped returning my calls.”
“Because she was dead?” Chelsea supplies.
Everyone else is firing questions at Tim, but I am completely speechless. I never could have imagined this in a million years. And how did Shane know about it? He must’ve known, because when he said it, he was looking right at Tim. I glance at Shane now, and he’s watching everything unfold, a look of amusement in his eyes.