Chapter 7 #2
“I’m guessing you know exactly why Jessica Moore was following you.”
I meet his shrewd, amber-eyed gaze. “That depends on what you feel compelled to tell your wife.”
“Don’t insult me, asshole.”
Some of my tension eases. Mitch and I met when we were fifteen and I moved in with my aunt and uncle across the street in the rich Chicago suburb where the Rileys lived. Coming from the backwoods of North Carolina, I was lucky Mitch was the first person I met.
I trust him, but I also understand his relationship with his wife comes before his relationship with me. I don’t blame him for that.
“I’m being respectful. I know you and Maddie don’t like to keep things from each other.” It pays to make sure everyone is on the same page before you say something you can’t take back.
“It doesn’t affect her, Lily, or me, so I’m not keeping anything from her.” Mitch also has a daughter who turned one last month, and he has become downright domestic.
“Okay, good. Because I need to figure this shit out before I talk to Ryder.”
“You have my word.”
I take a gulp of coffee, hoping the caffeine speeds through my system and jolts me awake.
“Friday, after the Felicia situation, I was in a shit mood and stopped in some out-of-the-way dive bar. Jessica Moore, also in a bad mood, sat down next to me. We proceeded to take that bad mood out on each other. And before you ask, no, I didn’t get her name, and yes, I do know how that sounds.
Now she is a ticking time bomb, waiting to detonate. ”
Mitch starts to laugh and then covers it up with a cough. “Sorry, sorry.”
I stare up at my ceiling. “The woman is entirely unpredictable and unhinged, and you’re laughing?”
“Heard she’s pretty hot too.”
“That’s not the point. She’s utter chaos. I feel like I’m in an episode of I Love Lucy.” I stop, narrowing my eyes. “Who said that she was hot?”
A slow smile widens his mouth. “Sam.”
“Jesus Christ, why are you all such gossips?”
“This is Revival. What did you expect?”
“Fourteen fucking hours ago, I didn’t expect anything.”
Mitch holds out his hands. “Okay, calm down. We’ll figure it out.”
I don’t want to ask, I really don’t, but I’ve been exercising restraint since this disaster started. I’m low on sleep, and I’m weak. “What did Sam say?”
He cocks a grin. “Do you really want to know?”
I don’t want to think about what my gut is telling me.
I change the subject. “Let’s get on topic.
I don’t want to lie to Ryder. I can keep playing dumb, but that doesn’t seem to be working, and I can’t think of anything.
” I rake my hand through my hair. “I don’t know.
I thought if I said it out loud, something might come to me. ”
Mitch stares at me without blinking for several long, uncomfortable moments. I clench my jaw to keep from filling in the silence.
It’s one of those things you learn in law enforcement. How powerful silence is. What people confess when they can no longer stand the sudden quiet in a too-loud world.
Once again, Jessica Moore is forcing me to exercise willpower, and I do not like it.
I do, however, manage to keep my mouth shut.
Mitch leans forward and puts his elbows on my wooden table. “That must have been some one-night stand.”
That wasn’t what I expected him to say, and I jerk my head back. “Are you deliberately missing the point?”
“No, but it must have been pretty good to shake you.”
“I’m not shaken.” The words come out quick, too quick.
“Uh-huh.”
Defensiveness crawls across my skin. “It was fine. It’s the mess after that’s causing me to scramble and bat cleanup. I talked to her last night, and we both agreed it was an isolated incident neither of us has any intention of repeating.”
Her cool casualness about the situation irrationally infuriated me. Of course she’s lying about my effect on her, but I can’t confront her about it without revealing I’m lying about her effect on me too.
“What’s her game plan?” Mitch asks.
I scoff, shaking my head. “Get this—she thinks it will be easy. Her plan is to feign innocence and ignore me.”
He cocks his head. “Isn’t that what you want?”
“Yes, but there is no way that’s going to happen.” My voice is rising again.
I’ve raised my voice more since meeting her than I have in the last month. When I need to go on the warpath at work, I’m more of a calm, deadly type. I save yelling for extreme circumstances where I am demanding complete do not fuck with me attention.
“Why not? There will be plenty of people there. Other than a cursory hello, you could easily ignore her for the entire day.”
I blink at him, trying to understand how he doesn’t understand, and then I remember he hasn’t met her. “You don’t get it. She’s one of those women who can’t help causing chaos wherever she goes. It’s, like, in her DNA.”
A smile twitches at Mitch’s lips. “Or has she thrown you so much, you’re hyperaware of her?”
“What? No. When have you ever known me to be dramatic?” My temples pound. I down the rest of my coffee and refill the cup to the brim. “You’ll see.”
He pushes his cup forward for a top-off. “What do you think she’s going to do?”
“I have no idea. That’s the problem.”
“Or maybe the problem is you don’t think you can resist her.”
I shake my head. “This isn’t about sex.”
He laughs. “I cannot wait to meet this woman.”
“Why did I call you? The one time I decide to talk and you’ve been nothing but an aggravation.”
He leans back in the chair and studies me. “Do you want my advice?”
“Yes.”
He unwraps the sandwich, takes a bite, and chews while I sit here and attempt to get control over my irritation.
Why did I think this was a good idea?
Finally, he swallows. “Tell him.”
I can only stare at him. “What the fuck kind of advice is that?”
“Out of the shitty options in front of you, that’s the best one.”
“How is that the best one?”
“Because there’s no way he isn’t going to find out.”
“No. Once I have it under control and get used to her, it won’t be a big deal.”
“I think you should tell him. You didn’t do it on purpose.
You’re a consenting adult. She’s a consenting adult.
You and Ryder have a strong friendship—if you set the record straight, he won’t hold it against you.
Promise you won’t touch her again, and it will be done. It’s the simplest and cleanest option.”
Shit. He’s right. That’s exactly what I should do.
And then it hits me.
The other truth I’ve been avoiding.
My gaze slides over Mitch’s shoulder to the window that looks out onto my backyard, past the trees, to the river beyond. My knee starts bouncing under the table.
If I get it out of my head, it will lose power. “I don’t know if I can make that promise.”
“You don’t think you can resist her?”
“I want to say yes. I want to believe this isn’t going to be a big deal.” I sigh, and my shoulders slump. “But if it comes down to it, probably not.”
He nods. “Then leave the promise out. The rest still stands.”
“Understood.”