Elements of my own history are embedded in my fake ID. Joshua said it’s easier to base the lies on some truth so I’m notcaught off guard. Emma Brown is the oldest of four siblings; her parents have been happily married for twenty-four years; her father is a financial adviser in the city, and her mom is a stay-at-home mom. She,I, graduated early from NYU with a computer science degree, and I now work as a freelance project manager for a small portfolio of niche clients, mainly start-ups.
My personal cell rings, and I smile when I see my friend’s gorgeous face on the screen. I swipe to answer Elisa’s call. “Hey, babe. Did you get my text?”
“I did. Sorry I’m so late calling. I’ve been locked away in the library all day.”
“It’s cool. I’m sorry for bailing tonight.”
“How come? What’s up? And what happened at the meeting yesterday? I tried calling you last night.”
“I know. I didn’t have time to call you back. I was too busy moving into my new apartment.” I walk toward the window in my bare feet and lounge on the window seat as I stare at the dark New York skyline.
“What’s going on?”
“I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. It’s highly confidential and not safe for anyone to know. I couldn’t even tell Mom. I’m not going to be around for a while.”
“How long is a while?”
I shrug even though she can’t see me. “It could be weeks or months. I don’t know.”
“You’re going undercover, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but you didn’t hear that from me.” I figure I’m safe telling her that much. I’m sure the rents are all aware, and someone was bound to mention it at some point.
“Is it dangerous?” Worry threads through her tone.
“Yes, but I’ll be fine. I’ve got skills, and they’ve given me a ton of high-tech tools to help with the mission. I’ll be okay.”
“I’m really going to miss you. I’d just gotten used to having you back.”
“I’ll miss you too, but you’ve got your college friends, and maybe you should give that guy a chance. The one who keeps asking you out on a date. He can distract you if you’re missing me too much.”
Elisa and I are super close, and we usually talk every day on the phone and hang out at least a few times a week. It’s been harder in recent months ’cause I was in Nepal undergoing training, but when we were both at NYU studying, we spent tons of time together.
“Seb is nice, but he’s not my type.”
I snort out a laugh. “You don’t have a type, Lise. There’s only one man you’ve ever crushed on, ever noticed, and I hate to break it to you, babe, but Caleb Accardi is an arrogant sexist pig. If I was determined to help you get over him before, it’s nothing on how determined I am now.”
“Why? Did something happen at the meeting?”
“He was rude and disrespectful to me. Ben even had to pull him aside to talk to him. Honestly, babe, I don’t know what you see in him. I know he’s hot. Both twins are, but Caleb is a pig, and you deserve better.”
“He’s always nice to me.”
I’m not surprised she’s defending him because she always does. Her statement isn’t untrue either. Caleb is considerate with Elisa in a way he’s not with most other women—his mom, my mom, and aunts excluded. I’m guessing it’s because he knows Elisa much better than me. They even spent time living together in Ben and Sierra’s house as kids, and he’s got to be aware of how she feels about him.
She was always following him around, drawing him pictures, baking goodies for him, and offering to help with anything he needed growing up. Elisa literally worships the ground he walkson, and I honestly don’t get it. While I know he cares for her, he has never given any indication he sees her as more than a casual friend. “I know, and it’s his only redeeming factor. But trust me when I say he makes an exception for you because he was disgusting.”
“I will talk to him when I see him next. Tell him he’s got to be nice to you too.”
I love Elisa to bits, but man, she’s so sheltered. And so blind when it comes to that man.
“I’ve got to go, babe. I’m sorry for ditching you tonight. You should go out and party. No point in wasting what’s left of your college experience. And if I was you, I’d be climbing Seb like a spider monkey and taking a bounce on his dick.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“And you’re wasting all that college dick holding out for a guy who is not worthy of you.” I want to say more, but Elisa gets testy when it comes to Caleb. He’s the only thing we have ever argued about.
“I want Caleb to be my first, and I’m prepared to wait for him.”
