Today's Reading
"Ha," Alice said. "While Goth-girl skin wasn't an issue in Sussex, I need to get better about sunscreen now that I'm closer to the equator."
"Yikes," Stephanie said.
Alice nodded.
"Jess," Alice said. "The big day is coming up. I'm sure you're already prepared for work, but how about socially? Any exciting encounters in real life?"
Jess snorted. "As a matter of fact, I have had one...adrenaline-filled encounter."
"Excellent," Alice said. "Do tell."
" 'Adrenaline-filled'?" Stephanie asked, squinting. "We're listening."
Jess quickly recapped her run-in with the weirdo dressed like a serial killer while she'd been emptying out Cassie's storage space. She couldn't remember if he'd mentioned his name, but it wasn't like it mattered.
"So you threatened an innocent stranger with physical violence," Alice said.
"Consistent for you," Stephanie added.
"Hey!" Jess said. "I'd like to see how you'd respond when an ax murderer cosplaying as a blacksmith shows up. And there's no way to know if he'd planned on remaining an 'innocent stranger.' "
"I wouldn't have announced my presence," Alice said, her shiny, posh British accent making the chiding worse. "He didn't even know you were there. You approached him."
Jess rolled her eyes.
"I wasn't going to let him get the upper hand."
"Of course not," Stephanie said.
"Anyway, it worked out fine," Jess said. "He went away and left me alone. I got everything out of the space, so we won't cross paths again."
"I suppose that's true," Alice said, chewing her lip a little. "You could cross paths with other people, maybe. Like your parents?"
Jess frowned.
"There's no need," she said. "I'm here, they're in Rockford. Everyone is just fine exactly where they are."
"I see," said Alice.
"I get it," Stephanie said. "But seeing them might actually be useful. It's only been a few months since...Cassie, and grieving together might—"
"Can we talk about something else, please?" Jess snapped, cutting her off. She had zero desire to see her parents. An awkward pause almost gave Jess time to start feeling bad about being rude. But Alice saved her by pasting on a bright smile.
"Sure we can," she said. "Steph, do you have your class schedule yet?"
Stephanie barked a laugh.
"I'm not getting the best vibe from the administration. It's getting..."
"Curiouser and curiouser?" Alice asked.
"I'm afraid they may all be mad here," Stephanie said.
Jess and Alice grimaced.
"Well, we can keep our fingers crossed," Alice said. "At least Steph's picked up tennis again, and I've got my second book club meeting next week. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, Jess."
"Right," Jess said. "I didn't tell you that I've found a place to shoot."
She minimized the window and pulled up a browser. After copying the link to the Michigan Folk School, she pasted it into the chat.
"This looks good," said Alice.
"Is it far from where you live?" Stephanie asked.
"Not too far," Jess said. "And actually, there's an open house there this afternoon."
"You are going, right?" Stephanie asked.
Jess raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you say it like that?"
"Well, you know how you get," Stephanie said, shrugging.
This excerpt ends on page 14 of the paperback edition.
Monday we begin the book The Duke and Lady Scandal by Christy Carlyle.
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