I coasted through the rest of my morning classes. My chest swelled unexpectedly when I spotted Hayden slouched against my locker, waiting for me. Like it was nothing, he dropped his arm over my shoulder and grazed his lips over my temple.

Several kids glanced at usmostly girls who looked like they’d trade their knock-off Prada shoes to be in my position.

“Hungry?”

“Always.” I tucked my hand into my sweater. “Diner?”

“If you don’t mind that Phoebe and Gabe join us?”

“That’s cool.” Not a total lie, but it also meant we had to act like we weren’t doing whatever we were doing. It wasn’t like we’d become official or something.

Then again, Hayden hadn’t skipped the PDA a few seconds ago.

Phoebe and Gabe were already at the diner when we walked in. I slid in first, then Hayden. The entire length of his thigh pressed against mine. I pulled a curl from behind my ear and started fiddling with it.

Phoebe’s bright gaze slid between us before settling on Hayden. She and I still weren’t talking, obviously. And I was making it a habit to not feel anything when I was around her. I wasn’t sure if it was working or not.

“Are you going to Charleston with Jonathan tomorrow?” she asked. “Parker’s going with him.”

“Nah, I’d rather sit in class.” Hayden stretched and dropped his hands in his lap.

“I think I’d skip class.” Gabe frowned at the menu.

“Is he going to be gone all day?” I asked, visions of files dancing in my head.

“Most of the day,” Hayden answered. “Probably won’t be back till late evening.”

“Oh.” I took a drink of my soda. Hadn’t Olivia mentioned at dinner that Liz would be going to class with her tomorrow? Something about a field trip involving a play. That meant no one would be home.

Gabe said something, but I’d stopped listening and was suddenly coldshivering beside a boy who threw off boiling-level temperatures. Tomorrow would be perfect. No one would be home besides my mom and let’s face it, she didn’t count. Who knew when I’d find another opportunity to see those files?

But did I want to know what was in them? What if I found something that changed everything? What if there was evidence that Cromwell had been behind the accident?

Hayden’s hand on my thigh brought me out of my thoughts. I kept my face straight and kicked him under the table. He squeezed in return.

If I did thiswhich I already knew I wouldI needed to prepare myself for the possibility that Hayden would hate me forever for outing his father or another member of his adopted family. Phoebe’s locker stuff hadn’t done it, but this would be different, worse.