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

play-spying on my dad and brother.” A sad, wistful look crosses her face. “I really miss those days. Everyone was so happy all the time, and we actually did stuff together. These days, we can’t even find the time to sit down and eat dinner together.”
    “I’m sorry, Ev.” I lean over the console and give her a hug. “I know what you mean, though. My mom and I barely spend any time together now that my brother and dad are gone.” When I sit back in my seat, I notice her expression has tensed. “What’s wrong?”
    “It’s nothing.” She runs her fingers through her tangled locks as she stares out at the people roaming around the parking lot.
    “Ev …” I say in a sarcastically stern tone. “Best friends don’t keep secrets from each other. We made a pact, remember? Never, ever keep secrets, or else we’ll drop dead.”
    Her shoulders slouch as a sigh eases from her lips. “I’m sure it’s nothing, and I know it’s not true, but I overheard something during second period … something about your brother.”
    I take a deep breath, willing my voice to come out evenly. “I heard about it, too. And I know it’s not true.” Don’t I? “And, when we’re all done with this Dixon thing, I’m going to find out who started the rumor and track them down.”
    “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Ev says worriedly. “In fact, I think this whole revenge thing might be getting out of hand.”
    “No way,” I disagree, reaching for my bag on the backseat. “I should’ve done this a long time ago instead of ignoring the shit people said about Sawyer when he died. Maybe if I’d stopped it then, things wouldn’t be so bad now.”
    Pity fills her eyes. “You can’t stop every single person in this town from gossiping.”
    I drop my bag onto my lap. “But I can sure as hell try.”
    She opens her mouth, but her words are cut off as Embry suddenly hops onto the bumper of my car and begins bouncing up and down.
    “Guess what I found out,” she singsongs with another bounce. “Kennedy kissed Hunter at the party last weekend, and apparently, he slobbers as much as a dog.”
    Kennedy strolls up behind her and pokes her in the ribs. “Will you shut up? You’re ruining potential blackmailing material.”
    Embry dismounts from the car and pokes Kennedy back. Kennedy winces then pinches Embry on the arm.
    I stick my head out the open window. “Will you two quit acting like two-year-olds? We’ve got work to do, and the clock’s ticking.” I make a big show of tapping an invisible watch on my wrist.
    Embry dramatically rolls her eyes. “Drama. Queen.”
    I flip her the bird, and we laugh.
    Kennedy skips up to the driver’s side and lowers her head to look me in the eye. Doing her best mafia impression, she whispers, “So, this shit is going down now?”
    I hand her a walkie-talkie. “This shit is so going down now. After what happened in the hallway with Dixon, I can’t wait to get my hands on his computer.”
    “What’d the asshat do now?” she asks, handing the walkie-talkie to Embry.
    “I’ll tell you on our way to the main office.” I check the earpiece to make sure it’s secure before sweeping my hair over my ear and climbing out of the car. I bump the door shut with my hip then lower my head to look at Ev. “You ready?”
    She gives me a thumbs up. “Just please don’t get caught.”
    “Caught? Me? Never.” I wink at her then sling my backpack over my shoulder before walking toward the school with Kennedy and Embry.
    As we make the three-minute journey to the main office, I give a brief retelling of what Dixon said to me. By the time I’m finished, Embry looks like she’s about to punch someone, and Kennedy is on the verge of tears.
    “I really hate this place sometimes,” Embry says, opening and flexing her hands. “If it weren’t for you guys, I’d probably beg my parents to pack up their shit and get us the hell out of here.”
    “Mine will never move.” Kennedy