Eliza Starts a Rumor(50)
All of the texts were to and from one name: Steven Beck.
She collapsed onto the table in complete relief. “Steven Beck! Steven Beck!” she chanted. She had always loved that guy. She called Alison on her own phone. Alison answered right away as if she’d been waiting up for the call. She had.
“All the texts are to or from his college roommate, Steven Beck, who lives up here somewhere, too.”
“He’s gay?”
“No, what? Wait a second.”
Olivia began to look through the chain of texts. They were all about running. She read them to Alison in a tone that rose from giddy to ecstatic.
I’m running 10 minutes late. Sorry.
Hurry up! I’m raring to go.
Feel free to start without me.
I’ll have to warm up before you get here.
I only have an hour this morning.
I’m so worn out from yesterday, I don’t know if I can do it again.
She felt satisfied. “You get the picture. He is meeting his friend to run.”
“You must be relieved,” Alison said, in a tone that made Olivia wonder if it were a question.
“I feel like you’re not saying something.”
Alison paused to collect her thoughts. She was feeling very tired and didn’t want to put doubt in Olivia’s mind if it no longer existed.
“It’s just, why didn’t he tell you that?”
“I don’t know.” Now Olivia paused to think. “Should I ask him?”
“I don’t know. Do you care?”
“More out of curiosity. But I would rather stop torturing myself than know his reasoning. I’m going to stash this phone somewhere he will find it and never snoop again!”
“I agree. I’m happy for you. Are you happy?”
“Yes. And excited for a good night’s sleep.”
Olivia realized that she had been so self-absorbed that she’d forgotten to ask Alison about the bad part of her night. But she hadn’t really slept in days and it was nearing midnight. She would ask her tomorrow.
“Thanks again, Alison, for everything.”
As they hung up, Alison couldn’t help but wonder why Spencer needed a second phone for running. She decided to just follow Olivia’s lead and move on.
CHAPTER 29
Jackie & Jack & Alison & Marc
Jackie jumped on board the 5:49 with a little extra spring in his step. It did not go unnoticed.
“So, how was your date?” Lee asked.
“No hello?”
“We say hello every day. How many times do we get to say, ‘How was your date?’”
“Fine. It went great.”
“You kissed her?” Skip asked.
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
“That’s because you need to kiss to tell, and my gut says you didn’t,” Skip chided. Lee elbowed Skip and continued in a kinder fashion.
“So you didn’t kiss her?”
“No, I didn’t kiss her.”
Skip chimed back in, “Then it wasn’t great. Everyone knows that’s the sign of a great first date.”
“Are you two still in a fraternity? Do you leave work and go to secret meetings where you haze each other and play beer pong?”
“How long has it been since you’ve been on a first date? Leave him alone,” Lee defended Jackie.
“He doesn’t bother me. I know it went great because I just know, and we held hands.”
“Oooh, you held hands,” Skip mocked. “You better get tested.”
“Don’t listen to him. I think you should text her over the weekend and ask her out again.”
“I already texted her.”
“Already! And?”
“And nothing. I haven’t heard back.”
“When did you send it?”
“This morning on the way in.”
Lee was worried. “And you haven’t heard back? That can’t be good. Ask her how the date went online, as Jackie.”
“No way. I’m not talking to her as Jackie ever again.”
“Jackie is gonna ghost her?” Skip asked.
“I don’t know. You’re making me nuts. I’m tired, and word is we have lots of algebra homework this weekend. I’m gonna close my eyes.”
Jackie should have known better. As soon as he nodded off, Skip took his phone and went to town.
How was your date?
“He’s gonna kill you.”
“It’s for his own good. What could happen?”
“She could say terrible. Then what?”
“Then he’ll know and not make an even bigger fool of himself. It will be a learning experience.”
“Who are you?” Lee laughed. Skip laughed, too. But then she answered. And they stopped.
Forget my date! You’re not going to believe who was waiting for me when I got home!
“Shit.”
“Crap.”
“What do I do?”
Lee grabbed the phone. “Give it to me.” He typed:
Who?