Chapter 38
CHAPTER
THIRTY-EIGHT
JULIE
The shop is quiet after the morning rush. The familiar rhythm of work is soothing. Weighing shea butter, adding essential oils, checking temperatures. Things I can control. Jamie's phone buzzes on the counter. Ryan's name appears on the screen.
I glance toward the front of the shop. No customers, just two staff members and Jamie. I walk to the doorway and catch Jamie's eye. She sees her phone and nods, following me into the back room. I close the door and put the call on speaker.
"Hey," I say.
"Hey." Ryan's voice is careful. Measured. "Are you somewhere you can talk?"
"We're at the shop in the stock room. Jamie's here. You're on speaker."
"Good. I've been thinking about logistics."
Jamie leans against the worktable, arms crossed. I stay standing, my hand resting on the counter beside the phone.
"Okay," I say.
"We need to be smart about this," Ryan says. "Really smart. Which means we need to establish some ground rules."
"Like what?"
"I can’t be seen near either of you at all and my number can't appear in your call or text log on your phone, which is why I called Jamie’s phone.”
The weight of what he's saying settles over me. He's thinking like someone who understands surveillance. Like someone who knows Asher might be watching. "You think he's watching that closely?” I ask.
"I think we can't assume he's not," Ryan says.
"What he's done isn't normal. He's a fucking psycho and he's not wrapped too tight at this point.
I expect he's going to be watching to see if I reach out to you.
And I further think he's going to want to check that you go away.
So we operate like he's watching everything. "
Jamie straightens. “How does that work when he checks San Juan and we're not there?"
“I’ve got it covered. He won’t know because my parents are going to take the trip for you."
My eyes go wide. “What?"
"They'll drive your Audi onto the ferry tomorrow morning. They'll have your phone, your credit cards, everything. Any GPS Asher checks will show you exactly where you're supposed to be.”
“They'll check into the inn Jamie booked, use your card for some souvenirs, post a couple photos to your Instagram if you want. My parents love the islands. They'll have a great time."
Jamie's eyes snap up to mine in surprise. "Your parents are in on this?" she asks him.
"They are. I told them everything last night," Ryan says. "My mom wanted to drive to your house immediately and drag you out. My dad had to talk her down. They're both furious and they want to help."
My throat tightens. Ryan's parents have always been kind to me. But this would be above and beyond. "Ryan, I can't ask them to do that."
"You're not asking. They're offering. And honestly, my mom is all in on this. She's all about female empowerment and bringing down men who suck. Cheaters are her pet peeve. And my dad doesn’t fuck with any man who makes a woman cry.”
Despite everything, I almost smile. Ryan’s parents are incredible. It’s no surprise they raised someone like him.
"Where will we actually be?" Jamie asks.
"I've got an empty house in West Seattle," Ryan says. "No furniture, but I'll have it set up by tomorrow. It's close enough that you can get back to your house if you need to, but far enough that no one will think to look for you there."
He's thought of everything. Every detail. Every angle. "Why are you doing this?" I ask quietly.
There's a pause. Then Ryan says, "Because you deserve better than what he's doing to you. And because I'm done watching him destroy you."
Jamie reaches over and squeezes my hand and nods.
"There's one more thing," Ryan says. “To get all the information you can, you need to hire a private investigator. My dad knows one and he said he's perfect."
My pulse quickens. “Do you think Asher’s up to something besides whatever is happening with Devon?”
“The only thing I know for sure about Asher at this point is that he’s told so many fucking lies, you need someone to get everything together so you know exactly what you’re dealing with.”
Jamie looks at me. I can see the question in her eyes. Am I ready for this? Am I ready to know?
I think about Asher's relief this morning. The way he practically skipped out the door. The twenty thousand dollars he threw at Jamie like it was nothing just to make sure I left. "Do it," I say. "Hire the investigator. I want to know everything."
"You're sure?"
"I'm positive. You’re right. I need to know."
"Okay," Ryan says. "I'll make the call today.”
"What do we do in the meantime?" Jamie asks.
"You act normal," Ryan says. "You stay at work. You pack for your trip. You don't change your behavior at all. And tomorrow morning, you meet me at the West Seattle house. I'll text the address to Jamie's phone since we're keeping yours clean."
"Okay."
"Julie," Ryan says. His voice is softer now. "This is going to work. We're going to figure out what he's doing. And then you're going to have options."
Options. The word feels foreign. I haven't had options in so long. "Thank you," I say. "For all of this. For believing in me."
"I should have confronted him sooner. I should’ve seen what he is. And what he fucking isn’t."
“None of us saw, Ryan. Not really. But when it mattered, you did confront him. That's what's saving me right now.”
We end the call. Jamie and I stand in the back room of our shop, surrounded by bottles and labels and the smell of essential oils. Everything looks the same as it did an hour ago. But everything has changed.
"Are you scared?" Jamie asks.
"Terrified," I admit. "But I'm also relieved. Because for the first time in months, I'm not doing this alone."
She pulls me into a hug. "You were never alone. I've been here the whole time."
"I know. But now we have a plan. Now we have help."
"Ryan's parents," Jamie says, pulling back with a small smile. "I can't believe they're going to take a proxy trip for us."
"I can't believe any of this is happening."
"Do you think the investigator will find something?"
I think about Devon. About the way Asher looks at her.
About the panic attacks that only happen when we're together.
About the hours he spends in her room. About the way he can't touch me but had no problem getting hard in the shower.
About him telling Ryan he never loved me.
"Yeah," I say. "I think he'll find something. "
Jamie nods. "Then let's finish packing your weekend bag tonight. Make it look real."
"It has to look real," I agree. "Because if he suspects anything, this whole thing falls apart."
"He won't suspect," Jamie says. "He thinks he's already won."
She's right. Asher thinks he's well out ahead of me. He thinks I'm broken and desperate and clinging to a marriage that's already dead. He thinks I'll be licking my wounds in the San Juan Islands while he gets his kicks.
He has no idea I'm about to become his worst nightmare.