Kathy Reichs - Code

First, Chance didn’t like me after what I’d done. Second, he knew too much about the Virals, and suspected more. And third, I wanted to avoid the spotlight, not do the Dougie on center stage. Chance was the worst possible person I could ask.

And yet, that’d be pretty badass, right?

Moving on, I recorded my default trio. Hi. Shelton. And Ben.

I circled the third name, then drew a question mark beside it.

Lately Ben had been a live wire. I loved hanging out, but the last thing I needed was a scene at my debutante ball. These days, the slightest blip seemed to set Ben off. Could he control his temper?

I wrote Jason’s name beneath Ben’s. Totally unfair, but Whitney’s approval was a huge strike against him. I racked my brain for other options, came up empty. Then I snorted at my own silliness.

What other options, exactly? This was always the complete list .

I knew the easy route—take the other Virals and hide in a corner all night. Whitney and Kit would be there, but they couldn’t force me to branch out. A few hours killing time with my friends, then a quick spin down the runway. Boom. Over.

So why was this difficult?

Because Jason is the perfect choice .

Jason had attended debutante balls. Knew the drill. My crew would have to conduct research on YouTube. Jason was popular on the cotillion scene. My guys weren’t even on the radar. Asking Jason would get Whitney off my back. Inviting only Morris Island boys might plummet her into a depression.

Jason would add credibility to the Tory Brennan Debutante Ball ticket. And he’d already asked me for the gig.

And he might be, you know, a real, actual date .

I sat up abruptly. Where had that thought come from?

My eyes returned to Ben’s circled name.

On one count I had no illusions: Ben would be hurt if I choose Jason over him. He’d never show it, but I knew Ben Blue well enough to be certain.

Back to square one.

Frustrated, I fired up my Mac. I needed help from Google. A few searches later, I’d made my decision.

My list contained four names.

According to the Internet, four was an acceptable number.

“Jason and Ben as marshals.” I jotted an M by each of their names. Older, they’d get the higher honor. “Mumbo and Jumbo as my stags.”

I wanted Hi and Shelton there. As always, safety in numbers. I scribbled a big S beside those two.

Running the choices through my head, they appeared sound. Whitney would be so happy that I’d chosen “a boy from a fine Southern family” that she’d accept the Virals filling out my entourage. Everybody wins, right?

So why was I still as tense as a banjo string?

I wish Mom were here .

Tears spilled before I knew it. Sobs threatened to follow. Somehow I managed to hold the grief at arm’s length.

It happened like that sometimes. The pain struck out of nowhere.

“Enough.” I backhanded moisture from my cheeks.

Mom would’ve hated the frivolity of a deb ball, but she’d have loved helping me pick my dates. We’d have laughed about it. Together.

I probed the space in my heart where her love used to reside. Found only a void. And nearly went down again.

I miss you, Mommy. Every day .

Coop was on me like a Velcro Snuggie. Planting paws on my knees, he catapulted into my lap, nearly toppling my chair.

“Easy!” I rolled to the floor and wrapped him in a bear hug. “You’ll kill us both.”

Coop rested his head on my chest. I closed my eyes and stroked his muzzle.

“Thanks, dog breath. I needed that.”

CHAPTER 20

THE NEXT MORNING I waited by my locker.

I hadn’t taken the shuttle. Dentist appointment. Six a.m. Kit drove.

After forty excruciating minutes of scraping, poking, polishing, and flossing, I’d finally been paroled. My tongue kept probing my teeth, making sure all were still in their sockets.

I had a plan. Invite Jason first, just to make sure he’d still go. If he said yes, then I’d go down the line. Ben. Then Shelton and Hi.

If Jason said no, I’d die from embarrassment. After that, I’d ask Ben to be my only marshal. Perhaps that would make him feel better. But I didn’t want to talk with Ben about Jason if I didn’t need to.

Luck was with me. Jason appeared in the hallway before the others.

I waved awkwardly. “Got a sec?”

“Yeppers.” Jason pivoted and sauntered my way.

“Yeppers?”

“I was trying it out.” Jason leaned against the locker next to mine. He was wearing the standard Bolton uniform, but with one of the recently approved alternate ties: midnight blue, dotted with tiny white Griffins. “Wanted to see how it felt.”

“I’d go in a different direction.”

“Agreed.”

My mouth opened, a prepared speech at the ready.

Jason spoke before I had the chance. “I want to apologize for how I acted in the cafeteria.” His face grew serious. “I don’t know what Ben has against me, but it’s gone too far. We need to squash it. Fighting like this is pointless.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. Ben was being a jerk.”

“Yeah, but I took the bait.”

“He set the hook.” I sighed. “I’ll talk to him. Ben’s a good guy, I’m sure we can figure this out.”

“Figure it out.” Jason shook his head. “Right.”

That look again. What?

Jason changed the subject. “I left that CPD guy a message and gave him your cell number. That okay?”

“Yes, that’s perfect. Thanks so much.”

“Like I said, it might be a few days.” Jason glanced at his watch. “Bell coming. What did you need?”

Shoot! With Jason bouncing between topics, I’d had no opening.

I adjusted my backpack. Hid a deep breath. Unfortunately, my brain chose that moment to short circuit.

“Debutante ball,” I blurted.

Nice job, genius!

“I know, right? It’s so soon. Should be a blast.” Jason’s tone became oh-so-casual. “Who you taking? Anyone I know?”

No sir! You will not wrest control of this invite from me .

“I was hoping your offer still stood.”

Jason blinked. His mouth dropped open. A beat, then, “Yeah. Yes, of course.”

His reaction alarmed me. Did he still want to go?

Half the blood in my body flooded into my cheeks. Words tumbled out. “You don’t have to. I mean, if you’d rather not, or if you’re planning on escorting someone else, then—”

“No, no! I’m just … surprised. When I offered, you didn’t seem too excited.” He grinned like a chimp. “I’d be delighted.”

Whew .

“Great! You’ll be a marshal, of course. Ben will be the other, and Shelton and Hi will sing backup. My stags,” I clarified lamely.

“Ben, huh.” Jason’s grin twisted at the corners. “Should be interesting.”

“They’re my best friends, Jason. I couldn’t leave them out.”

He nodded firmly. “Nor should you. We’ll make it work. I promise.”

“Thanks.”

Jason’s mature outlook reassured me. This would be okay. Right?

The bell rang our five-minute warning. Jason and I said good-bye and headed to our respective classes. I slid into my desk just as Shelton and Hi filled the two beside me.

Calculus dragged. Mr. Terenzoni’s pinched, nasal voice droned on and on about an equation scrawled on the dry-erase board. Though I tried to pay attention, my mind wandered.

The Gamemaster’s clue was still a mystery. No matter how I attacked it, the arrangement made no sense. Shelton was testing different coding systems, but so far had struck out. Hi was equally baffled, and Ben didn’t seem to be trying.