My pulse stutters.I glance at Megan, who’s looking between us with dawning comprehension.
“Oh, shit,” Megan says, realizing what just happened.
“Wait.”Iris’s voice hardens as she processes what she just heard.“If Ethan Wilder is your brother, and Caleb is your brother, too, then...”Her eyes widen in realization.“Caleb is a Wilder.”
I wince.“You should talk to Natalie about this.”
“I should talk to Natalie?”Iris’s voice rises with anger.“Eve, what is going on?What aren’t you telling me?How long have you known about this?Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shake my head.“I wanted to tell you, but I wasn’t allowed.”But Iris is too smart.I watch her face change as she pieces it together, her expression shifting from confusion to understanding to something that looks like horror.
“If he wanted to join the Marketing Department, he would have no reason to hide his surname, unless he’s there for a different reason,” she says quietly, her voice growing tense.“He’s looking for the mole.”She stares at me intently.“How did you know who he really was?”
I take a deep breath.There’s no point in lying now.“I knew Caleb from college.We went to Grandview International together.I was about to tell you his real name that first day when Caleb warned Natalie.That’s why she called me to her office.”
The betrayal in Iris’s eyes cuts deep.“You’ve been lying to me this entire time.”
“I couldn’t tell you.Natalie made it clear I would lose my job.”
I watch Iris process everything, her face shifting from confusion to understanding to something that looks like hurt.
“Natalie never said a word to me,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.“Does that mean she suspected me?”
“I don’t think so, but you should talk to Natalie.She can explain why she kept it from you.”
I look at the broken glass scattered around Megan’s car.“Do you want to call the police and a tow truck?”I ask, gesturing toward her destroyed car.
“I’m going to have my brothers handle it,” she says with a shrug.“I have four brothers.They should be useful for something.”
“Can I drop you somewhere then?”
“Where are you guys heading to?”
“We were planning to get some drinks and maybe some food,” I say, reaching for my phone.Caleb doesn’t answer the phone again, and I sigh.He must be in his meeting.I drop him a quick text about what happened and make sure to let him know Megan’s safe before I tuck my phone in my pocket.“So, what will it be?”
“I could get drunk,” Megan ponders.“Alcohol sounds fun.”
“We might just go to my place, though,” I warn.
“I like your place.”She loops her arm around mine.“Come on.I’ll buy.”
I exchange a look with Iris who shrugs, mouthing, ‘I don’t mind.’
As we head towards my car, I hope Caleb picked up his underwear from the bathroom floor this morning like I told him to.The last thing I need is his sister to see them.
“Ican’t believe Mom is making us come over on a weeknight,” I grumble as Ethan drives through evening traffic.“I had plans.”The car glides silently around a corner as rain starts to spatter against the windshield.Ethan switches on the wipers, his expression calm despite the dark circles under his eyes.
I check my phone battery again.Dead as a doornail.Great.Just perfect.
I let out an involuntary sigh, wondering what Eve is doing right now.Probably settled on her couch watching that crime documentary series we started last weekend, wearing my blue button-down that she ‘borrowed.’She thinks I haven’t noticed how she’s claimed three of my shirts already, wearing them around her apartment like they’ve always been hers.I haven’t said a word about it—afraid she’ll stop if I point it out.
“Why are you sighing?”Ethan glances over, one eyebrow raised.
“Why do you have dark circles under your eyes?”I retort, deflecting with practiced ease.Ethan gives me a bland look.He turns his attention back to the road, apparently deciding I'm not worth the effort.
I slump against the door, watching the city lights blur past.“Eve and I had plans.We were going to order dinner and watch TV.”
I can feel Ethan’s eyes on me.“That’s your idea of a date?That’s very lazy of you.”
