It’s not my smile.
“What happened?” My hand lands on my stomach, trying to calm the sudden crest of unease. “What’s wrong?”
He searches my face. There’s a slight glaze to his eyes that makes my stomach roil before he focuses on the drink in front of him. “Nothing, Em. Everything is fine.”
No, it’s not.He picks up the glass, draining it.
“Something is clearly bothering you.”
Jared blows out a breath. His face softens, but the lines around his eyes are still bracketed when he faces me again. “Don’t worry. Arron… he was outside for a minute. But he’s gone, Em. He’s going to Oregon, okay? I watched him leave.”
The noise around me fades, and I sway.
“Here?” It’s a whisper. I force my voice louder. “He was here?”
Jared’s face is so careful. Watchful. He looks the way he did the first night we met. Suspicious. “He’s gone. He’s not going to hurt you.”
But his words don’t sound right. They sound almost strained, a hollowness behind them that makes my stomach twist painfully. “And what did he say? Did you speak to him?”
Because he saidsomething. It’s obvious from the way Jared jerks back. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you won’t look at me properly.” My tone is pleading. “That’s why, Jared.”
My breaths come faster, small, panicked inhales. “Whatever Arron said, he’s lying. That’s what he does. I told you that.”
You promised me.
You promised.
“Ask,” I force out around the phantom hand wrapped around my throat. “Whatever it is, Jared. Just say it.”
Jared’s body is rigid, his lips a thin line. “I do believe you, Em. Ido.”
We both know it’s not true. Or not completely. Because that’sdoubt, written all over his face.
Jared’s hands grip the bar. “I… I only have one question, okay? Just one.”
“Okay.” My mouth feels dry.
“Did you… did you take money from his father? And other people?”
49
Jared
Emilia’s face leeches of color.
I can’t breathe.
“It wasn’t like that,” she says tightly. “I didn’t steal anything, Jared.”
Fuck.
“Did they just give it to you, then?” I ask finally, dragging my hands through my hair. “Or you talked them into it? What the hell is this, Em?”
Ben would have given you everything he had. But he didn’t have anything to give.
Her head snaps back as if my words are a physical blow, and my chest tightens. “What the hell? You’re making it sound as though I’m a criminal, Jared!”
