“I didn’t break it off with Alistair.” She nods, but lets me keep going. “I didn’t mean to lie to Ash. It just… snowballed.”
“Why?”
“Alistair knows he works for Query.” My voice goes tight. “The guy is fucked, and yeah, I know it’s my fault for taking his money, but it’s all some game to him, luring people in. I swear I went to that party ready to break it off, and just as I was about to, he drops it on me. He knows about Ash, and it’s this dark, moody kind of knowing… like leverage.” I swallow the rest of the ramble and land on the line I actually practiced. “I need to figure out how to save Ash from Alistair, and bonus points if you can get me out too.”
Jenny’s still nodding, quiet, while she processes the ticking bomb I’ve lobbed in her lap.
“And you’re telling me?” she asks.
“Because he’s like this perfect money-making workout machine and I’m already a hot mess. It seems like… a lot.”
“Ash is my best friend, but he isnotperfect.” When I shrug, Jenny elaborates. “He’s obsessive, selfish, and sometimes downright self-destructive. I love him, and he’s so much more than that, but come on, Kael, he is also that. He’s your boyfriend. You need to talk to him.”
“Yeah, I figured you’d say that, and I will. But Alistair texted me last night.” I get out my phone and read the message. “We need to talk. My place. Friday night. Bring Asher.”
Jenny’s response is to take a slow breath, reconfirming that I’ve come to the perfect person by how measured she is digesting everything.
“Friday, as in tomorrow night?” she asks.
“Yeah, that’s what he said.”
“And what did you say?”
“I tried telling Alistair no once, and he made it clear that’s not how he operates. So I said I’d be there, but I have no intention of bringing Ash or letting him get any more involved than he already is—or, uh, than Alistair’s already making him.”
She takes another deep breath. “Kael, I’m going to break the best friend circle of trust and tell you something, but none of this changes my advice. You need to talk with Ash. This sucks. I hate telling you this now, but…”
“Lay it on me. Please,” I say.
“Tomorrow, Ash planned a whole surprise gallery event—for you.”
My stomach drops. So date night’s just a cover. My mind conjures the image of lights and wine, with people stopping in front of my work, and Ash across the room looking proud. He’s built a whole night to say what neither of us has managed to say out loud yet, while I’m asking his best friend to lie to him.
For once, my imagination sputters out. Even Rocky stays quiet, as if there really is no version of this where I escape Alistair, keep Ash safe, show up at that gallery, and not lose him anyway.
“He cares about you,” Jenny adds into the silence. “What are you going to do?”
“I have no clue.”
“Talk to Ash,” she repeats. “Figure this out together.”
“Ash cannot get involved with Alistair.”
Jenny rolls her eyes. “Look, Kael. We haven’t known each other that long, so if this offends you, forgive me, okay?”
“I came to you for help.”
“You’ve said you don’t want to be like your father. That you want to avoid your mom’s mistakes.” I nod. “What would you say if Ash tried to control you? Told you you’re not allowed to do something?”
She doesn’t understand. This isn’t about me controlling Ash. It’s me protecting him. Alistair feeds on dreams, and Ash’s are too easy for him to crush.
“Thanks,” I say, because anything else will sound defensive. She’s doing the best she can with half the picture. “You have to promise you won’t tell Ash.”
Jenny looks torn, and the flaw in my plan stares back at me with her lips pressed thin while her loyalties battle over the promise I’m asking her to make.
“Jenny,please. Promise you’ll let me handle this. I heard what you said, but… promise me.”
Jamal would never make this promise. The best I can do is ask.
