“She did stumble on Spencer’s brother selling drugs in the woods,” Micah adds, “we know that. For a while, Ranger wondered if he or one of his cronies might’ve killed her.”

“Drugs?” I ask, raising a skeptical brow. “Like the weed Spencer sells?”

Tobias lifts his head up to glance over at me.

“No, not at all. I mean like hardcore shit. Hardcore. Spencer’s a great guy, but his brother’s a twat. He’d be in prison already if their family didn’t keep paying off the police.” He shrugs his shoulders, takes another sip of his beer, and then looks away, toward the wall of boarded windows. “No point in telling him that though. He loves the guy too much to see his true faults.”

“Are you trying to infer something here?” Micah snaps, getting edgy and irritated again. “Because if you are, then just come out and fucking say it. I’m tired of dancing around the Amber issue.” Uh-oh. My eyes widen and I focus straight ahead, drinking from the brown bottle in my hand, and pretending like I’m not supremely interested in the direction this conversation is going.

“Did I mention Amber?” Tobias growls, turning to glare at his brother. “No. You’re reading into shit that isn’t there. Stop projecting all over me.”

Micah scoffs and stands up, staring down at his brother with narrowed eyes.

“You’re never going to let it go, are you? How many times can I apologize before you stop doing shit like throwing pretty girls in her room just to mess with me?”

Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa. The room I stayed in was Amber’s? Why did she have a room at the twins’ house in the first place? And … did Micah just say ‘pretty girl’ in reference to me? Tobias ignores him, sending Micah into a total fit. He throws his beer bottle against the wall and storms out, slamming the door behind him so hard that dust settles down from the ceiling.

“If I ask about Amber …” I start as Tobias turns back my way.

“You’re not going to get answers, sorry.” He tries to smile, but the expression doesn’t meet his eyes. Reminds me of Church. Tobias sighs, and we sit in silence for a while. I can’t stop wondering who might’ve taken Jenica’s picture, and if it isn’t the same person who’s been leaving me all the notes. Don’t forget: how did they find out your secret in the first place? Probably by creeping around in the bushes outside Dad’s house, that’s what. I shiver just thinking about it.

“Anything else about Jenica I should know?” I ask, and Tobias finally glances back at me before standing up.

“Other than the fact that the police don’t care, the administration doesn’t care, and even her own mother turned her back on her? Yeah, not much else. It’s just one, big fucked-up mystery.” He takes another drink of his beer, tosses the bottle into the picnic basket, and reaches down for my hand. When I take it, a little thrill zings through me and Tobias yanks me close.

“What are you doing?” I ask as my cheeks heat and he puts his hands on either side of my waist. My heart pounds frantically as I lay my palms on his chest. He’s staring down at me with dark green eyes, shadows dancing behind them that hint at a million hidden emotions. “We’re supposed to be worrying about Jenica here.”

“I’m only worrying about Jenica because her situation is concerning to you.” Tobias pauses and tilts his head slightly to one side, a faint smile working its way onto his lips. This time, it really does meet his eyes. “You know, ever since my brother kissed you, I’ve been dying of curiosity.”

My blush intensifies, and I lick my lower lip, eyes sliding to one side because it’s just a bit too hard to look at him right now.

“I kissed you,” I add lamely, and he chuckles, tightening his grip on my waist.

“If you consider that a real kiss, Chuck Carson, then there’s a thing or two I could teach you.” Tobias reaches out and puts a single finger under my chin, lifting my face up to look at him. He barely uses any pressure at all; if I wanted to, I could’ve resisted. “Would you like a little tutorial?”

Since I’m finding it suddenly impossible to talk, I nod instead and Tobias grins.

“Alright, Secret Girl, let’s see what you can do.” He moves one hand to the back of my head, cupping it gently as he drops his lips to mine, searing me with heat. I make a small sound without even meaning to, this urgent, desperate sort of whimper that encourages Tobias to pull me closer. His tongue traces the edge of my lower lip before sliding up against mine. I find myself melting into him, even as I’m doing my best to resist.

Getting involved with one twin means getting involved with both, doesn’t it? They said something about sharing, but … I’m not near as experienced as they are. I’m not sure if I’m ready for all of this intensity and passion.

And yet I can’t stop kissing Tobias.

No, he tastes too good, feels too good, and there are fireworks going off behind my eyelids.

Kissing Cody was never like this.

When I push harder into him, Tobias laughs and pulls away, flashing me a cocksure smile that does all sorts of strange things to my panties. Namely, it melts them.

“Nah, I don’t think so, Chuck. This was just the tutorial. You’re not ready for the full course just yet.”

I pick up a handful of dry leaves and toss them at him, sending them fluttering through the air like brown snowflakes.

“You’re a serious toilet-paper-wad, you know that?”

He throws his head back and laughs at me, like that’s the dumbest thing he’s ever heard in his life.

“Ow, burn, Chuck, burn.” Tobias winks at me and then gestures with his chin toward the door. “Let’s blow this joint before the murderer shows up, okay? I can’t die until I’ve beaten Micah’s ass during drag racing. Fucker always wins.”

“Against you?!” I ask as I follow him out into the cooling evening air. “And you let me race him anyway?” Tobias just laughs and keeps walking as I jog to keep up with those long legs of his. Somewhere just off the path, one of those stupid owls hoots.

And somewhere out there … there’s the mystery of Jenica’s death, just waiting to be solved.

On Thursday, Church sends out a group text cancelling the Culinary Club meeting. I'm surprised to find that I'm actually a little disappointed. For a while, I try to entertain myself in my room, but I just feel cooped-up and anxious after everything the twins told me.

Fuck. This secret at Adamson Academy is likely to get me killed.

“I give up,” I murmur, texting Dad to make sure he's home. If he is, I'm going to go up there and tell him about the notes, and the shadowy figure on Halloween night. Even if he locks me in the house for the rest of my high school career, fine. It's better than ending up hanging from a noose in the forest.

But of course Dad texts me that he's at a meeting, so I head downstairs and follow a group of boys back to the main building. That way, I'm not alone on the paths, but I have a clear, safe shot to the kitchen. I have a key, so even though the door is locked, and the cover pulled down on the window, I let myself in.

I don't expect to see Ranger Woodruff wearing a pink and white checkered apron with lace and frills … and nothing else. Like, I walk into the room, and I see his perfect ass right there in plain view.