Read Online Masquerade of Lies by Wendy Hinbest - Free Book Online Page A

her handbag across her wrist. “Bye,” she said as she wiggled her fingers.
    I grabbed my bag and left the library. On my way out of the school, I ran into Josh. He smelt like Dial body wash, and he had a hefty gym bag over his shoulder.
    “Hey, Hanna. What are you doing here so late?”
    “I had to meet somebody in the library. What about you?”
    “Oh, I had football practice,” he said with an awkward smile. “Want a ride home?”
    “Sure.” I had butterflies in my stomach.
    We strolled through the student parking lot and stopped at a dark blue Ford Mustang with two white stripes down the middle. He opened my door for me. Who says chivalry is dead? He then walked around to the driver’s side and got in. He cranked the ignition, the engine growled, then he veered onto the street.
    “So, who is Hanna Clark? Tell me about yourself,” he said.
    “What do you wanna know?” My heart fluttered in my chest and my palms were sweaty.
    “Anything you wanna tell me,” he said with a smile.
    I recited directions to my house as he drove with one hand on the steering wheel, then offered, “Well, my mom and I moved here from Deerwood.”
    “What about your dad?”
    “My parents got divorced. My dad still lives in Deerwood.”
    “That sucks. Sorry.”
    “It’s okay.
    “I know what that’s like,” he said, rubbing the back of his head. “My parents aren’t together anymore either.”
    “Sorry,” I said, lowering my eyes.
    “That’s okay. I mean, it was hard at first, but now I understand why they split up,” he said. I stared out the window at some children playing in the park. “My parents used to fight, like, all the time.” I tucked some hair behind my ear. “Eventually, they just had enough. So, are you close with your dad?” he asked, not taking his eyes off the road.
    “No, not really. I haven’t seen him or talked to him since we moved.”
    “Bummer.”
    “Yeah, but my mom and I are pretty close.”
    “That’s cool,” he said, shooting me a glance as he rolled up at a stop sign. “I live with my dad, but my mom and I talk once in a while.” I offered a smile. “So, why did you and your mom move here? Why didn’t you just stay in Deerwood?”
    I bit my lip. “It’s complicated,” I said.
    “So…I heard you’re dating Mark Edwards.”
    “What! Who said that?”
    “Everybody is saying that.”
    “Well, we’re just talking right now. He seems nice.” He didn’t say anything. He just nodded his head. Could he be jealous? “Oh, there’s my house on the right.” He pulled over to the side of road. “Thanks for the ride.”
    “Anytime,” he said as he placed his hand on my knee.
    My skin began to tingle. Is he flirting with me? Isn’t he still with Claire?
    “I gotta go,” I said as I got out of the car.
    “Bye,” he said.
    I closed the door and smiled at him before he drove away.
    ***
    It was Friday, and Angela Blaine’s party was that night, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go. It felt so wrong going to a party so soon after Brooke’s death.
    After third period, I ran into Katie and Jessica in the hallway. “Hey Hanna, wanna hang with us?” asked Katie.
    “Where’s Claire?” I probed.
    “She’s with Josh, doing God knows what,” said Katie. “Or maybe she’s with–”
    “Sssh!” Jessica hissed. They both looked at me and smiled suspiciously. What were they hiding?
    “Or maybe she’s with who?” I questioned.
    “Never mind. Let’s get out of here.”
    I really didn’t feel like eating cafeteria food, so I decided to go with them. We ended up going to Katie’s place, which was about two blocks away. She lived in an adobe mansion, which was beautifully landscaped with flower beds that consisted of rudbeckia hirta flowers and peonies. The entryway was elegant, with a picturesque staircase, soaring ceilings, and marble flooring. The walls were dotted with family pictures and wall decor frames.
    “Nice place,” I said.
    Everything was neatly organized;