What Lies in the Darkness (Shadow Cove Book 1) by Jessica Sorensen

That his dad is an asshole.”
    “Liam told you all of that?”
    “I think he’d been drinking.”
    “That would make much more sense.”
    My brow teases up. “What’re you saying? That someone wouldn’t open up to me unless they were wasted?”
    “No.” She tosses the lip gloss back into her purse. “I’m saying, Liam Stallings wouldn’t open up to anyone unless he was wasted. The guy is seriously as fake as Bridget Stolerfens’s tatas.”
    I gape at her. “Bridget got breast implants? Really ?”
    “Of course she did. She was barely a B cup all through sophomore year. Then, suddenly, she comes back from summer break and her goodies”—she makes a circular motion around her chest—“are bigger than mine. There’s no way she grew that much in just three months.”
    “Huh. The things you learn during a stakeout.” I give her back her phone then roll down my window. “So, how long have you had Dixon’s number?”
    “Since today. I thought I’d save it in my contacts for when we have to call him back and tell him we have his computer.” She drops her phone onto her lap and glances out the windshield as Rylen walks by with a couple of his friends.
    He waves at us, and I give a small wave back, not wanting to draw attention. But my standoffish move has the opposite effect, and instead of moving on, Rylen says something to his friends then strolls toward my car.
    When he reaches my door, he crouches down so we’re eye level. “Hey, I’m glad I ran into you.” He drags a hand through his hair, making the dark strands stick up in every direction as he blows out a tense breath. “I want to apologize for what happened in the hallway. I never should’ve brought that shit up. I usually try to avoid talking about the stupid rumors going around school. Anyway, I wanted to make sure you were okay, but then I realized you didn’t know and … I’m just really sorry I upset you.”
    “You didn’t upset me,” I promise. “The rumor did. And that wasn’t your fault, so you don’t need to apologize.”
    Guilt crosses his face. “Yeah, but I haven’t done anything to stop it, either.”
    “I don’t expect you to,” I tell him. “Besides, it’s not like you could go around and force every single person in this school to stop talking about Bria and my brother. And even if you did, by tomorrow, they’d already be on to the next juicy story.”
    “Yeah, maybe,” he mutters, dazing off with his brows knit.
    I cast a mystified glance at Kennedy, who only grins at me like a goofball. “ What? ” I mouth.
    Instead of replying, her smile broadens.
    Weirdo.
    I redirect my focus back to Rylen, who’s staring at me with an unresolved look on his face.
    “Can I ask you something?” His tone carries caution.
    I nod. “Sure. What’s up?”
    “Well, I … It’s just that …” He shifts his weight, fidgeting with a studded leather watch on his wrist. “I was kind of thinking that maybe—”
    “Yo, Rylen, get your dumbass over here!” Logan, one of Rylen’s friends, hollers across the parking lot. “We need to go before all the good shit’s taken!”
    Rylen heaves a discouraged sigh. “I guess I should get going. The skate shop just got a new shipment of boards, and Logan’s been freaking out all day that all the good stuff’s going to get picked over.” He starts to stand up then pauses. “You should head down there with us. You could keep me company while Logan looks at every single deck in stock.” His lips tilt into a lopsided smile. “He’s seriously worse than my sister when it comes to shopping.”
    “I wish I could go. I could really use some bearings, but I have some other stuff I have to do.” Plus, I have a total of eight dollars and seventy cents to my name, which already has to go toward gas. “Sorry.”
    “No worries.” He straightens, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Maybe some other time?” When Logan shouts at him again, he visibly cringes. “And maybe