“I don’t care,” she said. “We have an address. Someone could throw mud at me, and I wouldn’t complain.”
“Who on earth would throw mud at you?” I asked, slanting a look at her.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Do you mean somethingelse?” I asked in amusement. Without thinking, I reached forward and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear.
She flushed but didn’t look away from me. “Why is it so hard to stay mad at you?”
Tension pressed down hard on my shoulders. “Because I did it to save my sister?”
“It must be part of your charm,” she remarked. “To be able to do a horrible thing and get away with it.”
“Have I gotten away with it?” I asked, my breath catching.
Inez picked at the hem of her jacket sleeve. “I’ve never been one to stay mad for too long. Eventually, my anger fades into profound dislike for the other person. Being furious is exhausting, and you particularly don’t make it easy. You’re too…” She scrunched her nose. “Likable, I suppose. Like a puppy.”
“Thank you?”
“Like a mischievous, sneaky, untrained puppy,” she amended. “But here’s the thing, Whit. I may not be mad at you, but I have not forgiven you. I don’t think I can. Ithurtme too much. Because I really loved you.”
I hadn’t just lost a friend or a wife. I’d lost Inez’s love. Something I didn’t know that I’d had. I closed my eyes, wishing I could scrape that truth from my mind, because it was tearing me apart. I opened my eyes slowly, in time to see a small smile on her perfect mouth. Small, but brave and edged in sadness. I’d done that to her.
“I understand,” I whispered.
Inez tucked another wayward curl behind her ear, her fingers trembling. “I know you’re motivated by your guilt, and I believe some part of you must grieve for the loss of our friendship. It will never be the same, and actually, we won’teverhave one again. No matter how well we get along, no matter how good of a team we make. All of that doesn’t matter. Those are superficial things. Because this is our new reality: you have well and truly lost me.” She peered up at me gravely. “You do know that, don’t you?”
I was oddly lightheaded. As if I wasn’t getting enough air. “I do.”
Inez nodded, her face pale. “And the truth is, maybe losing me isn’t significant to you. It might be a shallow wound that will heal over quickly,not even leave a scar.” She inhaled. “But the hole in my heart won’t ever heal.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
She licked her lips, and I fought valiantly not to stare. “Because despite us working together, acting like friends, we’re not. And I needed you to know that I have more respect for myself than to ever allow you back in.”
“Inez—” I broke off, stomach lurching. A figure walked on the opposite side of the street. She was dressed resplendently in a bright gown, swinging a parasol in a girlish way that made her look years younger. Inez followed the line of my sight, and I slapped my hand over her mouth before she could cry out.
We both watched as Lourdes crossed the street, heading directly for the bank.
She was about to step inside when someone let out a sharp three-tone whistle.
Lourdes froze, one foot poised above the front step. Slowly, she turned, opening her parasol in one fluid movement. She looked both ways before darting back across the street and disappearing around the corner.
Someone had warned her off.
CAPÍTULO DIECISIETE
“I’m telling you,” Whit seethed. “Isadora was here! She followed us and warned off your mother.”
I huffed along his ground-eating strides. We still hadn’t managed to secure a carriage back to the hotel, though it hardly mattered since Whit would get us there in minutes, given his quick walking.
“You’re being ridiculous,” I said in between deep breaths. “She would have had to have found another carriage to follow after us and then pay for it, but with what money? Her father never gave her any.”
“According toher,” Whit scoffed. “Consider the source, Olivera.”
I took hold of the crook of his elbow. Enough was enough. I pulled hard and stopped, swinging him around. He was devoid of any perspiration, his breathing even and steady, while I’m sure my face glowed with dripping sweat.
“You would have noticed if she was following us,” I said. He opened his mouth, but I beat him to it. “And say she went by foot, don’t forget—she doesn’t know the city well.”
