Class Reunion of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal Page A

now.
    Summer laughed the strange, humorless chuckle that never boded well for an opponent. “It’s hilarious you’re telling people that, especially when he’s not here to deny it. Look, everyone loved Jason, so I can’t condemn you for dreaming big. But if he really is coming this weekend, he’s mine. He and I have some unfinished business.” She sauntered away before Lacy could form a reply, not that she would have anyway. She wouldn’t dare tell Summer that she and Jason were an item. Summer would never believe her. It would be far more fun to see her reaction in person.
    Kimber watched her walk away and turned to Lacy with raised eyebrows. “Tomorrow should be fun,” she said. “I can’t wait to see her face when she sees you and Jason together.”
    “It will be hard pressed to look as shocked as yours,” Lacy said.
    “I’m warming up to the idea. A little,” Kimber said. “I need more time to see you in action so I can get used to it. And now I can’t wait to see you mop the floor with Summer Ridgefield.”
    “I’ve never been a violent person,” Lacy mused. “But I swear to you, if Summer puts her grimy paws on Jason, he will be the last thing she ever touches.”
    “I like this new, saucy Lacy,” Kimber said.
    “I’ve never known her any other way,” Tosh said as he ambled up beside them. He was aiming for lighthearted, but fell short. He sounded sad, and Lacy’s heart squeezed.
     
    “Where’s Riley?” she asked.
    “She met up with some friends,” he said.
     
    “And,” Lacy prompted.
    “They’re horrible. I think I hate them. I should probably find a quiet place to pray about that. Maybe later.” He tossed back the remainder of his punch.
    “Hang out with us until she comes back,” Kimber said. “How did you and Riley get together, anyway? I could use a good love story.”
    “More punch,” Lacy announced. She gathered their cups and set off for the punch bowl. The less she heard about Tosh and Riley, the better off they would all be.

Chapter 4
    “Lacy, what happened to your face?” Jason whispered bright and early the next morning. Because Kimber and Lacy had stayed up most of the night talking, the morning felt even brighter and earlier than usual. It was just past dawn, though. How had he gotten her to agree to such an early meeting?
     
    “The sidewalk and I had words,” Lacy said.
    “That looks terrible.”
    She wrinkled her nose at him and he backpedaled. “Terribly painful is what I meant to say,” he whispered. He tipped her face up and kissed her sore chin.
    “It’s not so bad. My tooth is the real problem. I chipped it a little. I have to run to the dentist in a bit and have it filed.”
    Jason sighed and draped his arm on her shoulder as they walked down the hall. She wondered if he felt guilty over her busted chin. She wasn’t sure why he should except that he had canceled their evening and he seemed to think bad things wouldn’t happen to her if he was there to protect her. “How was work last night?” she asked.
    “Dull. I missed you. How was the party?”
    “Not dull,” she said. “And I missed you.” That was probably an understatement. Jason would have helped her navigate the minefield of post high school socialization. As it was, she had ended the evening huddled with Tosh, Kimber, Carter, and a handful of other band geeks as they filtered in. She had avoided any more interaction with the popular kids. Like high school all over again, she thought.
    “You’re quiet. Does your chin hurt and you’re not telling me?”
    “No, I don’t even feel it. I’m tired. Kimber and I stayed up most of the night.” She yawned for emphasis and pressed her hand to her mouth.
    “You’re not going to drown, are you?” he asked.
     
    “I’m practically unsinkable,” she blurted before realizing he would now be thinking about her built-in floatation devices. He grinned down at her. She crossed her arms over her chest. She uncrossed them and used