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Chapter 14

Not Too Late

My phone buzzes while I'm still crying, and my mind just keeps replaying the worst moment of my life.

Don’t.

And it’s Ruel jerking away from me.

Again and again and again.

My brain just doesn’t want me to forget how he’s rejected me, and that’s why the moment my phone buzzes, I’m more than ready for a distraction⁠—

“Hello?”

And that goes to show what an idiot I still am.

I thought I had it bad with my heartbreak, but fifteen minutes later, I realize I should have known.

Be careful with what you wish for.

Because the voice on the other end of the call was Sadie.

Or you might just get it.

They tell me Patrick’s in trouble, and even though I have no idea if it’s true or not, we both know I have no power to call their bluff. So I go where they tell me to, which is just a few blocks away from the club, and that’s where Sadie and her friends show me about the jewelry they’ve planted in Patrick’s locker.

“You can tell the police that we planted it,” Sadie says sweetly, “but if you do, then that might still warrant a call to the FBI. I don’t think you want that, do you?”

The sound of police sirens in the distance prevents me from answering.

Sadie beams. “Oh, right on time!”

She’s called the police? I thought she didn’t want trouble?

“You disappointed me so much earlier,” Sadie says with a pout, “when you didn’t tell me about your meeting with Ruel. But maybe this time, you’ll do the right thing.”

The police car slows down in front of us, and I find myself shielding my gaze from their headlights.

“You’re going to confess about stealing my bracelet,” Sadie whispers, “and planting it in Patrick’s locker. That keeps everyone safe⁠—”

Two police officers step out of the car.

“Everyone lives happily ever after⁠—”

And they start walking my way.

“Except you, of course.”

They come to a stop when they reach us. “Ladies.”

They tip their caps to us, and when Sadie and her friends preen and greet them like they’re tonight’s dinner guests, I feel it happening again.

My head is spinning and hurting at the same time; I’m once again an extra in a daytime soap, but I’m also the only one without a script.

“We received a report about a certain individual named Karyna Francisco wanting to make an admission to committing theft.”

Sadie looks at me in shock, and for one moment, I can’t help but think how unfair it is. Not only is she tall and beautiful and supposedly smart, too, but now I realize she’s also insanely good at acting⁠—