The Good Girls Read Online Free PDF Page B

jerk the guy was. And though the lawyer Caitlin had spoken with said the police were under obligation to keep her involvement with Granger’s death a secret since they weren’t yet officially charged, Caitlin was almost positive Beacon kids had caught wind of the rumor all the same. She’d gotten vicious looks all day, like everyone believed she was guilty. Even girls on her soccer team were looking at her funny—but then again, no one brought it up, so maybe she was just paranoid.
    It was halfway through the morning when she ran into Josh. He’d been standing by his locker with Guy Kenwood and Timothy Burgess, his buddies from the soccer team. They’d locked eyes, and Caitlin had frozen in her tracks, knowing she’d look like an asshole if she turned around and went the other way. By the daggers Guy and Timothy were shooting her, it was clear they’d found out that Caitlin was now with Josh’s brother. Caitlin had wondered, for a split second, how exactly Josh had told them. Having your less popular youngerbrother steal your girlfriend wasn’t exactly something to brag about, after all.
    â€œWell, at first he didn’t look at me,” Caitlin told Jeremy, shoving her hands in her pockets. “But then I pulled him aside and tried to explain.”
    Jeremy winced. “I’m sure that went over well.”
    â€œI told him we hadn’t been connecting for a while, and it was just a matter of time, you know?” She swallowed hard, thinking of Josh’s tight, furious expression as soon as Caitlin had said all that. “He was pretty blindsided. And hurt. But then . . . well, I don’t know. He was okay, in the end.”
    â€œReally?” Jeremy looked curious. “What did he say?”
    Caitlin took a breath. “He just said that if that’s what I wanted, then he wanted me to be happy,” she explained. She’d been astonished when Josh had said it, actually—it was so gracious and mature. I’m not going to be one of those pathetic guys who can’t deal. I’m not thrilled that you’re into Jeremy, but I guess I can’t stop you, can I?
    â€œI expected him to be so angry,” Caitlin concluded, peeking at Jeremy. “It was nice that he wasn’t.”
    Jeremy nodded. “Well, he’s been ignoring me for days. Although that’s better than him insulting me, which I figured he’d be doing in full force. Maybe our boy is growing up.”
    â€œMaybe.” Caitlin smiled weakly. Then she was hit witha pang. Every good thing in her life, she realized, was offset by something sad or bad. Here she was with Jeremy, but at Taylor’s grave—and with Josh so hurt. Here she was, happier than she was in years, but she was also an accused murderer. Nothing came easy.
    She looked up at Jeremy, Granger now on her mind. “So I guess you’ve heard about Mr. Granger—and my involvement. It’s not what it seems, though.”
    Jeremy waved his hand. “Please. I know that. But why were you at his house?”
    She shrugged, feeling uncomfortable. She couldn’t totally tell Jeremy the truth. “It’s a long story. But it has to do with Nolan. Some friends of mine and I thought Granger was the one who killed him.”
    Jeremy widened his eyes. “Really?”
    â€œWell, maybe not anymore,” Caitlin said faintly. Finding Nolan’s threat to Granger seemed like perfect proof—of course Granger would want Nolan dead to protect his reputation. But what if Granger was killed because he knew something else, something about Nolan’s murderer? There still could be all kinds of secrets out there.
    An elderly couple appeared at the top of the hill and walked with stooped backs down the path. Suddenly feeling like they no longer had the place to themselves, Caitlin turned to Jeremy. “Pizza?”
    â€œSure,” he said, a grin breaking out on his face.
    They