Free Deception (Dirty Secrets #2) by Mercy Amare Page B

you out, you can come here. I’ll help you raise the baby.

    Me: I’m definitely NOT pregnant. You have to have sex for that to happen, and I still have my V-Card.

    Margret Grey: Is that neighbor boy still clueless?

    Me: Jace. And yeah, he is. But that’s not what this is about. I need some serious advice here.

    Margret Grey: I say go for it. You’re a good girl. Every good girl needs to do something bad at least once in her life.

    Me: Even if it means somebody else could suffer because of it?

    Margret Grey: Sounds to me like you’ve already made your decision. You just want me to confirm your decision. Go with your gut.

    Me: Thanks.

    Margret Grey: Anytime. Now, I got to get off here… Dang lamb curry…

    “Ew,” I say, then shut my laptop.
    Okay, it’s settled.
    I will give Cassidy until Saturday afternoon. Then I am going to go to the cops.
    I just hope it’s the right decision.

Thursday, August 28
    English
    Kiss him.

    “Hey, Mads,” Jace says, taking a seat beside me.
    “You’re in class early.” He usually comes in right on time or a little late.
    “Well, you told me you talk to this guy every day, and he’s in this class. I don’t want to miss any interaction between you and this mystery guy.”
    I roll my eyes. “Why do you have to figure it out anyway? It’s really not that big of a deal.”
    “It is to me,” he says. “You’re one of my best friends. I have to look out for you… make sure this guy is a good one.”
    “Do you really think that Trey would let this go any further if he wasn’t a good guy?”
    Jace shrugs. “I want to judge for myself.”
    I sigh.
    “Hey, Madi.” I hear a guy behind me. Josh takes a seat in the desk on the other side of me. “How’s it going?”
    “Umm… good,” I answer, wondering why Josh is talking to me. He hardly ever does.
    He leans forward in his seat and angles towards me. “How are you handling the whole… Daisy thing?”
    My chest hurts at the mention of her name. “I’m… okay,” I answer, my throat thick. “I’m really worried about her, but I’m sure it’s all just a big misunderstanding. I keep expecting her to just show back up, you know?”
    “I know what you mean,” he says, standing up. “If you need anything, just let me know.”
    “Thanks.”
    He pats my shoulder, then walks to his desk at the front of the room. I turn back around to Jace and he’s frowning at me.
    “Josh Stirling? Really?” he asks, wrinkling his nose.
    Josh is a nice kid, really. He’s really smart, I don’t think he’s ever made anything below an A in his life, and he’s always been friendly to me. But I’m not attracted to him as anything more than a friend .
    “It’s not Josh. Not that there would be anything wrong with him if it were,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.
    “Good,” Jace says. “He’s not your type.”
    “Oh really? And you know what my type is?” I ask because I’ve never had a boyfriend before. Or a crush. Besides on Jace, but he so does not know that, and I’m definitely not going to offer up the information.
    Before Jace gets a chance to answer, the bell rings and Mrs. Duff walks into the classroom. She explains that instead of our normal class, we are going into the gym for an assembly.
    Great.
    More Daisy talk.
    This is absolutely the last thing I want to think about right now.
    We all follow Mrs. Duff into the gym. It’s already almost full. Our class takes a seat in the middle.
    It’s loud inside. Everybody is talking excitedly to each other. I hear a girl behind me.
    “I bet they’re going to announce that they found Daisy’s body. I mean, we all know she’s probably dead…”
    I stop listening. I can’t hear this right now.
    Jace puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer. I lean my head on his shoulder.
    “It’s going to be okay,” he says, then kisses the top of my head. “I’m sure Daisy is fine.”
    But she’s not fine. She’s so not fine. Right now, she’s