Playing with Fire by Emily Blake Read Free Book Online

she took a seat by Alison. She had heard that Tom’s twin was returning to Stafford after a four-year stint at five different boarding schools, and she’d seen for herself what a weirdo Zoey had become. But she’d had no idea that Zoey and Alison would pick up wherethey’d left off before Kelly’d had to break up their little friendship. How pathetic.
    Watching Alison and Zoey with their heads together over their lunch trays, Kelly felt a stab of annoyance. Alison looked…fine. She was actually smiling! Had she completely forgotten that her life was ruined ?
    Kelly jabbed a cherry tomato with her fork. For a moment, she was tempted to go over and congratulate Alison on her acting. It had to be acting, didn’t it? Alison couldn’t possibly have shaken off being humiliated in front of the whole school, and losing her guy and Kelly’s friendship so easily. Not to mention the fact that her mother was a criminal. Alison just didn’t have it in her.
    Kelly shoved the tomato into her mouth and exploded it to bits between her molars. Time to take things up a notch—a big notch. She looked across the table at Zoey’s twin, who was obliviously munching on a carrot. Kelly had always liked Tom well enough—he was cute and funny and had never gotten in her way. And now he might even come in handy.
    Kelly took a sip of spring water and leaned across the table toward Tom. She smiled up at him. “Zoey seems to be doing great,” she said sweetly. “I’m sure she’s thrilled to be back.”
    Tom coughed on his carrot stick. “Not exactly,” he admitted.
    Kelly leaned in closer and put her hand on his forearm. “Really?” she asked innocently.
    Tom nodded and his cheeks reddened slightly. Kelly had him under her spell. “Yeah, she had no choice. She’s been kicked out of five schools in a row. And after what she did at her last school, Dad really had to pull some strings to get her into Stafford.”
    Bingo. “Oh, I’m sure she didn’t do anything too terrible,” Kelly cooed. “Boarding schools can be so uptight.”
    â€œI have no idea what she did,” Tom admitted. “But whatever it was got her kicked out hard and fast. If she pulls any stunts here…” He trailed off, a concerned look crossing his broad, tanned face. Kelly knew what he was thinking. He was hoping that Zoey would not drag him down now that they were in the same school.
    Kicked out …the words danced around in Kelly’s head like blinking lights on a Christmas tree. She turned to look back at Zoey and Alison, and smirked. This was just too good. Twirling a lock of hair between her fingers, she contemplated how she was going to use this new ammunition. She was lost in thought when Alison picked up her tray and got to her feet.
    Kelly was on her own Miu Miu-clad feet in a second. “Be right back,” she said, flashing a smile and giving Chad’s shoulder a squeeze. As she stepped away from the table, she had no idea what she was going to say to Alison, but she knew it would come to her. When you were as good as she was, you didn’t have to think things all the way through. Timing her walk just so, she met her cousin at the tray drop.
    â€œHi, Alison!” she said, as if they were still the best of friends. “How is everything?”
    Alison’s eyes flashed as she set her tray on the stainless-steel counter, saying nothing. Then she smiled brightly and turned to face her former friend. “Everything is fine, Kelly,” she said. “It’s amazing how much better life gets when you get rid of the parasites.”
    Kelly felt her jaw tighten but smiled sweetly. “Really, Alison,” she chided. “You shouldn’t talk about your mother that way. The poor woman is in prison!”
    â€œI wasn’t referring to my mother,” Alison said evenly.
    Kelly acted as though she hadn’t