The driver’s question stirs me out of my silent stupor. The one I’ve been in from almost the moment Josh’s lawyer laid out my family’s complete history.
My father’s embezzlement.
My brother’s fraud.
How both of them stole my mom and my identities to expand their crimes, leaving both of us severely in debt.
It doesn’t matter that neither of us were involved. It doesn’t matter that we were both victims. No matter how I work to get past it, their mistakes always catch up with me.
Maybe I should just accept that I’ll always be guilty by association. Even if I didn’t do the crime.
“No, thank you.” I swallow hard, blinking to hold back the tears that have been threatening to fall for the better part of an hour. “I’ll be okay.”
And I will. I’ll fly back home and all of this will be a memory. A funny memory about the one time I gave into my impulsesand ended up briefly married to the best man I’ve ever known. I press a palm to my chest, over the dull ache that’s filled it.
Once again thanking the driver, and making a note to leave him an excellent review, I pull my suitcase alongside me and enter the airport. I skip the check-in counter since I already took care of that when I spent a small fortune changing my flight itinerary to leave today instead of later.
On the one hand, it seems like an extravagant expense. Especially because my room is paid for through the night, and I already had a return flight.
On the other, I couldn’t imagine staying in this place for even one more night on the off chance I might run into Josh. I know it’s a big place, and the chances are slim.
Yet, I can’t bear the thought of seeing disgust or—worse—pity directed my way. Not after what we shared.
I’ve lost so much in my life. Most of it not important in the grand scheme. But I can’t stand the thought of losing all of the good memories we made in our short time together.
Making my way through the security line, I reach the guard and offer him a weak smile along with my driver’s license.
He scans it and frowns. “Ma’am, I’m going to need you to step aside for a moment.”
My own brown knits together. “Okay.”
Great. Just what I needed. It looks like I’ve been randomly selected for an extra screening. Though, come to think of it, that usually doesn’t happen until after you walk through the detectors.
At least I got to the airport so early, I don’t need to worry about missing my flight. That would be the real icing on the absolute shit-cake my day—heck, this whole decade—has been.
Whatever. Delayed or not, I’ll survive.
“Ms. Dillon,” another man in a suit says. “Could you please step this way?”
“O…kay.” The hairs on the back of my head spring to attention as he leads me toward a side room.
Oh, hell. What if I’ve been flagged as a fugitive on the run because of my dad and brother? I know—I know—I haven’t done anything wrong. But, clearly, the rest of the world doesn’t know that.
The door opens, and I brace myself for a string of questions and prepare to ask for a lawyer if it comes to that.
And freeze as I find a familiar face waiting inside.
I suck in a breath. “Josh.”
“Thank God, I wasn’t too late.” He jumps to his feet and strides toward me. “I’m sorry if I scared you, but I had to make sure you’re okay.”
He takes my hands and looks deeply into my eyes. “Are you okay?”
I choke on a sob, torn between wanting to throw myself into his arms and wanting to turn on my heel and run.
“Please don’t be nice to me.” A sob escapes me. “I can stand almost anything but that.”
His dark brow furrows. “But?—”
