“I do. Yes, I do. And before you ask, yes it’s charged.”
Elena shrugs. “I know you’re not happy I asked but I’d ask even if you didn’t have that whole I-lived-in-a-cult past and oh-someone-hacked-my-email present.” She pauses. “It’s just safer. And I’ve listened to enough crime podcasts to know that it’s best to be prepared.”
I nod. “Okay. Well, I am but I am going to be late if I don’t hurry up. Have fun tonight.” I sling my bag on my shoulder and as soon as I’m in the hallway I take another deep breath and mutter to myself, “I can do this. I can totally do this. Lacey Simon, you’re strong. You’ve survived so much more than this meeting. You can do this.”
“Lacey?” Branson, Hunter’s friend, must have heard me talking, but he’s kind enough not to say anything.
“Hi.”
“You’re going to the auxiliary meeting, right?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah.”
He pulls out a book. “I’m so glad you haven’t left yet. I was trying to catch you before you headed out.”
“Why?” And I must sound defensive because he takes a step back and cocks his head, like he’s assessing me.
“Hunter left a book in our suite last night and he’s going to need it for the homework.” He hands me a pretty heavy economics book. “You’d think all professors would use the online version but nope, not ours. The version of the book we’re supposed to be using isn’t complete online so we have to use the actual hardcover.” He pauses. “You don’t mind bringing it to him, right?”
“I’ll do it.”
“Thanks!” Branson walks back toward the stairs but then, as if he thought about something else, he turns back around. “Hunter really is sorry for everything. He wouldn’t have done it if he thought that was going to hurt you and once he realized it would, he stopped.” He raises his hands up as if to prevent any protest from my side. “He’d probably tell me to mind my own business but we’ve been friends since we were both freshmen and, hmmm, not to sound like we’re back in elementary school, but he really likes you.” He chuckles. “And he admitted he was wrong which, if you know Hunter, is a big deal.”
I can’t help but smile at his statement. “I’ll give him the book,” I add.
“See you around.” He smiles as if he knew how warmth spread in my entire body when he said that Hunter liked me.
That’s how he finished the letter he wrote to me:
And just so you know, no pressure or anything, I really really like you. You. And not just the idea of you. And not because I only want to keep you safe. But you. Your smile and your laugh. Your kindness and how you’re always trying to find the best in people. The way you think. The way you walk. The way I feel around you.
I’m not sure if it’s the amount of Shakespeare he read, but he definitely knows his way around words.
IT TAKES ME LESS THAN twenty minutes to get to the station. And I still have a few minutes to spare. I pull up next to Hunter’s truck. “Let’s do this, Lace. Let’s do this.”
Being worried or anxious about new situations has always been part of me. Sometimes it feels like I’m beating myself up for being who I am, instead of learning how to best be me. Not avoiding situations. Not limiting myself. Finding ways to deal with the anxiety instead of trying to completely ignore it.
At first on the compound, it felt like a summer camp but still, the very first evening we drove there, I didn’t want to leave the car. I wanted to go back to Uncle John and see Mellie and Tessa. I didn’t want to meet new people.
Noah approached the car then. His hair wasn’t as long as what it was when he got kicked out of the compound. He had a ball with him and he told me he needed more people to play a game of soccer.
He helped to make me feel welcome.
I text him. Do you remember when I first got on the compound? You told me that day that your sister stayed east, and that one day you’d be with her again. You should tell her you’ve been thinking about her since the very beginning. Your parents made the decisions. You didn’t have a choice. How is your dad?
He replies almost right away. He’s out of surgery and things with Eva are still tense, but I’ll show your message. I think during those years, we all had to pretend that one day we’d get out and everything would be perfect and it’s not that easy, is it?
No.
Did they find Charlotte’s dad?
They have but they couldn’t hold him on anything. They called me yesterday to let me know they’re still looking.
You be careful. But you don’t forget to live either.
Okay.
I sigh and force myself to open my door, step out, and march toward the station.
I can do this.
I can live my life.
CHAPTER 19 – HUNTER
When she comes in, she’s wringing her hands and I’m not even sure she notices it. She’s wearing jeans, a blue t-shirt, and what I think is a cardigan. And I can’t help but watch her. And Jasmine must notice because she nudges me. “You might want to stop staring and start talking.” She laughs and the other people around the table join her because Jasmine is one of the kindest people I know, but she’s also as loud as Chief.
She stands up and walks over to Lacey. “Hi, I’m Jasmine, I’m the Lady Auxiliary President. We’re more than ladies as you can see and we’re very happy Hunter recruited you to join us.”
Lacey’s face flushes. “Thank you for having me. I told Hunter I’d be here. I want to help if I can. I’m about to apply for a volunteering position at the college daycare center, and I’m used to taking care of children.” She inhales deeply. “So I think I can help. I brought game ideas. And Hunter, I have your book.” She glances down and her flesh turns redder. “I’m sorry, I talk a lot when I’m nervous,” she mutters. And I’m tempted to tell everyone how wonderful she is and then to whisk her away so she can sit next to me. But I hold myself back.
Jasmine gently squeezes her hand. “I talk a lot, even when I’m not nervous. I work in construction and back when I started I felt like I had to talk a lot just to be heard half of the time.” She points to the empty chair next to me and I straighten. “You can sit there. We’ll discuss the carnival and then we’ll see what everyone can do.”
Lacey pulls the chair next to me and as always the hint of vanilla accompanies her and I’m definitely a goner. She puts the book that Branson told me he would give her on the table and she leans toward me. “I think I’m going to like it here.”
And our arms brush. She doesn’t pull away. And while I thought organizing the carnival would be just one more task and nothing more, I enjoy every single second and could stay in this meeting forever and a day.
IT’S WAY PAST THE USUAL end of the meeting time when we get out of the station. Lacey is hugging Jasmine and talking with J.J., Chief Stan, Martha, Rachel, and Dan. They’re all laughing and Jasmine gives me a look, raises a finger, and strolls my way, away from the small crowd.
“She’s a keeper.” Jasmine leans forward with a wink.
“She’s not mine to keep.” I shrug.
“I don’t think you’re an idiot but sometimes you’re pretty obtuse. I don’t know what you did. I don’t want to know. All I know is that you guys couldn’t stop glancing at each other during the entire meeting and I’ve never seen you so relaxed and happy. Just saying.” She turns back around and Lacey clears her throat.
I sigh and Lacey’s lips pull into a small smile, but a smile nonetheless. “She does talk pretty loudly.” She laughs. “It was nice seeing you today.” We head out to our cars. The air warmed up again the past couple of days. Instead of getting into our cars though, we both lean against them.
“I’ve missed you these past couple of days.”
“I’ve missed you too.” She pauses. “Why didn’t you tell me about your issues at school when we were texting all the time? We talked about everything. Or so I thought.”
I scratch the corner of my eye. “I’m not sure. Probably bec
ause I didn’t want you to think less of me. You already knew about my dad, about Jane Doe. I mean...how much coincidence can there be?”
“You thought I wouldn’t believe you?”
I sigh. “Maybe. I wanted you to see me in the best possible light.”
She glances up at the parking lights. And I nudge her, laughter in my voice. “You know what I mean.”
“So it’s not because this...” She gestures between us. “This was a job for you. For my uncle.”
“No! It was never like that. I was desperate for money, yes, and I didn’t think it through. As I wrote in the letter, when I saw you...and we talked face-to-face, I realized right away that I couldn’t continue. It made it seem all so much more real.” I run my hand through my hair. And when her hand tentatively reaches up, I lean into it. And yep, this must be how my grandma’s cat feels when he purrs and stretches when she pets him. I could just stay here.
“Do you want to go on a date with me?” she blurts out.
“Anytime,” I answer as quickly as I can. She drops her hand but steps closer and our bodies almost touch. And I wish we were even closer. I need her. I want her.
“The week after the carnival, there’s an outdoor movie festival playing in Friendshiptown. And I’ve never been to an outdoor movie festival and I’d like to go with you.” She rises on her toes and drops a kiss at the corner of my lips, and my entire body warms.
“Lacey?”
Our breath mingles. “You have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now.”
“I think I do.” And our lips finally touch. I’m not sure who leaned forward first, but I know that when I finally wrap my arms around her, bringing her closer. The taste of her fuels me with even more desire and I almost growl when we pull apart.
“After the carnival...a real date.” It seems to mean so much to her that I’d do really anything.
“A real date.” I grin. “But I mean...we may need a few more kisses until then ’cause that’s a long time.”
She laughs and if I wasn’t melting before, I am now, seeing how relaxed and sexy she is. That shirt of hers isn’t low but it shows her curves and how I wish we weren’t in the fire station parking lot right now.
I drop another kiss to her lips. “I’m working almost all day tomorrow, I only have an evening class, but Friday?”
“Friday I am going to see Lila’s soccer game. You can come with me if you want.”
“I think I might be able to make it.”
Her lips trail down my neck and I close my eyes. “No more secrets though.”
“No more secrets.”
CHAPTER 20 – LACEY
On the road back to campus, I sing out loud to songs I don’t even know. Elena would crack up if she could hear me. I feel like my past isn’t anchoring me to the ground anymore. I feel like my future is indeed open. I feel like I can finally live my present.
The police will find whoever hacked my emails.
And that’s when a shiver sprints down my entire body.
Whenever it feels like you moved on, I’ll be there. This was one of the first messages I got. I was still in the hospital then.
I shake my head, and continue singing, but the anchors I thought were gone are heavier than ever.
Everything’s fine.
Everything’s okay.
But my hands grip the steering wheel. And my heart skips a beat.
I check my rearview mirror but all I can see are Hunter’s flashlights.
I turn up the music. And then I feel it.
Something sharp and cold against my neck.
I scream and veer to the left, barely avoiding another car. They honk very loudly. I straighten back. And this time in the rearview mirror, I see him.
His gray hair and his piercing blue eyes full of hate. And then he smiles. His smile scares me more than any words he could say at this moment.
But then he leans forward, whispering my name, and his breath on my neck sends my heart into a panic overdrive.
“Tonight is the night you die.”
CHAPTER 21 - HUNTER
When her car keeps swerving from one side to another, I frantically call her. But nothing. Sweat runs down my back. She’s not picking up. Nothing. I squint. There’s another person in her car. I squint. It looks like a man. My heart pounds. I call 911. “We are on County Road 2043 on our way to Pasadena University, so we should turn onto Route 5 soon, but I think I see someone in the car with her.” I slam my hand on the steering wheel. I should have checked her car. I should been more careful. I should have made sure she was safe.
The operator’s voice is calm. Calmer than mine. “The police and ambulance will be right there.”
With everything so quiet in the past week, we both thought maybe it all stopped when the police started investigating. We were wrong, and the only thought keeping me going is that I need to get to her.
The sirens of the police are in the distance. It won’t take them long. “We need an ambulance too,” I tell the operator.
“The ambulance is only a few minutes away.”
Of course. My team. They’re coming. They’re the closest one.
“The police had been alerted about a possible suspicious activity. That’s why they are already here,” she explains in an attempt to soothe my worries
Her car swerves again but this time it spins and spins and spins. I hold my breath. She crosses the shoulder into a ditch. I get on the shoulder and slam on the brakes. Her car tumbles but doesn’t turn over.
The police arrive at the same time, then an ambulance and two policemen jump out of the next car that shows up, followed by Detective Barocci. “Stay back!” he screams at me but I’m already making my way to her car. I survey the surrounding. It smells like gas, and burned rubber, and I need to get her out.
J.J. and Chief Stan are by my side faster than I can count to three. “Let us do our job.” Chief Stan pushes me out of the way and he fumbles with the driver’s door, which cracks open.
He pulls her out. And he gives me an encouraging nod. “She’s breathing.”
I take a step forward, but not crowding them so they can help her. “I’m o-okay,” she croaks and some of the tension slips away. I rush to her and Chief lets me help her up. She winces.
“Your ribs. You may have bruised a rib.” I gently touch her face. “And you might get a bump there.”
J.J. carries an older man into his arms. He’s still alive, but I force myself to not even glimpse in his direction or I might go and wrap my hands around his neck. He wanted to hurt her. He wanted to kill her. Rage consumes me. Rage and fear. “You’re really okay?”
“I am.” Her voice isn’t weak. Rose—the EMT on side—checks her blood pressure.
I glance at Rose and I must still look panicked, because Rose nods. “She’s fine.”
And then she adds, “We’ll take you to the hospital for an x-ray but all your vitals are okay.” She pauses. “Detective Barocci wants to talk to you.”
Detective Barocci steps forward and the rage simmering way too close to the surface finds an outlet. “You said you were keeping an eye on him! What happened? Were you waiting for her to die so you might actually have something that sticks? Was that your plan all along? If yes then congrats, she almost died!” I’m not shouting but every muscle in my body recoils with tension, and my voice has a new edge to it.
Lacey reaches out and puts her hand on my arm. “I am okay. Really. I am.” I need to get a hold of myself. My fingers find hers and I’m not sure if I’m reassuring her or if she’s soothing me. But we both take a deep breath at the same time.
Detective Barocci crosses his arms over his chest. “We were watching him and were always in touch with his wife. She’s the one who alerted us that he seemed angrier than she had seen him in a while. We got a call about a suspicious car right by the fire station so we were looking for him.” He looks at me. “He’s been talking. He said he had hired a guy to get into Lacey’s account, apparently the same guy
who lied to your school about plagiarism. It’s all linked. And it was all about revenge.”
I frown. “Why is he saying it now? He wouldn’t admit to it before.”
“Because now he’s going to get charged with attempted murder. And we may have something else on him. The guy who accused you of using his website to plagiarize died of an overdose. But it smells fishy. And with the lies he told before, we’re going to have to dig dipper.”
His words don’t compute. “How do you even know about the website? And what’s going on at my school? Why is...why is that even relevant to Lacey?”
“We think they might be linked. And Lacey’s uncle has been calling us. He’s the one who insisted that it seemed like a lot of coincidences. Mr. Moore may have wanted you out of the picture, out of school, so he could have easier access to Lacey.”
“And that guy is dead?”
“He is. He’s been struggling with addiction for several years.” He pauses and looks at Mr. Moore who’s sitting in another ambulance. “I have a feeling Mr. Moore is going to talk now, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us to make sure everything is okay.”
I glance at Lacey, who has tears in her eyes, and my heart clenches. I reach out to her. “Are you in pain?”
She shakes her head. “No. But it seems all your problems came from me. Your problems with the school.”
I grin and feel so much lighter than I have in months. “My problems with school started before I even knew you. This...this is a bump in the road. And I got to be paired with you for tutoring so I’m not complaining. It’s all going to get sorted out.” I bend down and stare in her eyes, hoping she can see the truth in mine. “You’re safe now and you have no idea how much more important it is to me than anything else.”
Detective Barocci clears his throat. “I’ll see you both to take your deposition, but for now you should go to the hospital Lacey.” He shakes my hand. “Take good care of each other.”
Trust Me, Trust Me Not (Gavert City Book 3) Page 12