Across the Hall by Kat Jackson

Author:Kat Jackson [Jackson, Kat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2021-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

The boisterous happy hour environment of Ollie’s was precisely what Caitlin needed after that parking lot throwdown. When she arrived, Valerie and Drew were sitting with some people Caitlin didn’t know but they graciously splintered off and grabbed a table just for the three of them. Valerie took one look at the expression on Caitlin’s face and told Drew to grab two vodka tonics from the bar.

“I still don’t understand why you won’t drink a double,” he said to Caitlin as he set down her two single vodka tonics. “It’s the same thing.”

“No it’s not,” Valerie and Caitlin said in chorus. Drew raised his hands in submission.

Valerie waited until Caitlin had taken a few big sips of her first drink before asking “Do you want to talk about the reasons behind that look on your face?”

“Absolutely not.” Caitlin chewed on the straw. “Not one bit. Please fill my ears with mindless school gossip.”

Because they were good friends and keepers of the best Vanderbilt secrets, Valerie and Drew obliged. Caitlin tuned in and out, her attention diverting when Drew began a lengthy explanation of why the math and history departments were innately corrupt. She wondered if Mallory’s name would come up and wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear Valerie slam her some more, or if that would make her sad.

Caitlin knew Mallory had ice in her veins. Nothing about her suggested that she was warm and open and willing to put her heart on the line. But the way Mallory had turned on her that afternoon was not sitting well with Caitlin. There was an edge to her that was new and painful—an edge that didn’t seem rational. There had to be something else going on there.

As though she’d felt the brain waves of Caitlin’s thoughts from however many miles away, Mallory chose that moment to send Caitlin a text. Seeing her name flash on her phone didn’t bring Caitlin any sense of joy. She debated ignoring it, leaving it for when she got home, but curiosity got the best of her.

Before she could open the text, Valerie grabbed Caitlin’s phone and held it as far away as her arm would stretch. “Nope.”

“Valerie, give me my phone.”

“Nope. That look on your face is making me very angry and if Walker has anything to do with it, I’m going to be livid.”

“Aren’t very angry and livid basically the same words?” Drew asked thoughtfully, tapping his finger to his stubbled chin.

“Ooh, look at Mr. Math Man flexing his lexicon.” Valerie brought Caitlin’s phone a bit closer and peered at the screen. “Okay, I’m gonna need your passcode real quick.”

“Not happening.” Caitlin scooted off her chair and grabbed for her phone. A small but enthusiastic struggle ensued, squeaks coming from Valerie and plenty of cursing coming from Caitlin. In the end Caitlin emerged victorious, holding her phone like a swaddled baby.

While Valerie busied herself with fixing her unruly hair and complaining about Caitlin’s weird superhuman wrist strength, Caitlin opened Mallory’s text. Its contents weren’t surprising but reading the words somehow made her feel even worse.

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