Shine - Lauren Myracle [48]
I hadn’t learned much from Wally other than that he’d trapped poor Ridings McAllister in his spiderweb. Tommy was the only one of “Wally’s boys” I hadn’t spoken to, aside from our brief exchange at church. But I couldn’t face him. Not yet. That left the one tagalong member of the redneck posse: Beef’s girlfriend, Bailee-Ann.
After dinner, I dragged a brush through my hair, pulled it into a ponytail, and headed out of the house. Bailee-Ann and I used to be tight. Patrick was my true best friend—my kindred spirit—but Bailee-Ann was my best female friend.
Our friendship fizzled out in high school, just another smoldering by-product of my amazing disappearing girl act. But Bailee-Ann never treated me with spite, because she wasn’t like that. She was more . . . more like a fawn, with creamy, freckled skin and big brown eyes and a gentleness that made people not want to hurt her.
Well, made me not want to hurt her. Sometimes I worried about Bailee-Ann, because what one person saw as tenderness, another might perceive as an opportunity to get in and do some damage. But with Beef looking after her, Bailee-Ann would be okay. I wondered if she knew that Beef had worked for Wally? I’d have to talk carefully, in case she didn’t. But maybe I could get her to tell me what happened the night of Patrick’s attack.
Twilight had come and gone by the time I grabbed my bike from the side of the house. The stars weren’t out yet, but the sky was bluish-purple. It would be dark soon.
When Christian saw me throw my leg over my bike, he called out, “Hey, where do you think you’re going?”
Aunt Tildy followed him out on the porch, and he turned to her. “I don’t want her going out again.”
“Well, too bad you don’t have any say in it,” I said.
“You two, stop fussing,” Aunt Tildy said.
“She’s been out too much already,” Christian insisted. “She needs to stay put.”
“Needs to stay put?” I echoed. “What am I, a dog?”
“It’s late. You shouldn’t be out when it’s dark.”
Christian had been a warm body to stand by at Wally’s, and I appreciated it. But this big brother protective act of his was making me nervous. It opened up old wounds.
I rolled my eyes and said, “It’s hardly late. I’ll be back in, like, an hour. All right, Aunt Tildy?”
“I already said no,” Christian said.
“And just when did you become the boss of me?”
“You’re sticking your nose where it don’t belong,” he accused.
“Sticking my . . . ?” I gave Aunt Tildy a baffled look. “I just want to go to Bailee-Ann’s. It’s Saturday night, and I thought it would be nice to see her.” I shrugged. “I miss her.”
“Bullshit,” Christian said, making Aunt Tildy inhale. I glanced at her with wide eyes to say I didn’t know what had gotten into him, either.
Christian’s nostrils flared. “It’s because of Patrick. She’s going around asking questions about Patrick, and she needs to stop.”
“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” I told Aunt Tildy.
I turned to my brother. “Honestly, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I kept my tone the same, but the look Christian got said, If you’d answer my questions yourself, I wouldn’t have to.
A flush worked its way up his face.
“Anyway, you go to your friends’ houses all the time, so why can’t I?” I said.
“Because you don’t have any friends, that’s why!”
Aunt Tildy whapped him with her dishcloth.
“Ow,” he complained.
“That’s enough,” Aunt Tildy said. “Now, Cat. There is no reason for you to be”—she pursed her lips—“getting involved with what happened to Patrick.”
I pulled my eyebrows together. “But, Aunt Tildy—“
“However, I know you’re smarter than that, and I’m glad to see you getting back with sweet Bailee-Ann. You been keeping to yourself for too