Page 106 of Unmasking Mr. Crown

He read the exchange, his guilt amped up full blast.

Kate: Are you still at Nat’s?

Noah: How do you know I was at Nat’s?

Kate: I know everything. About Dash and what happened in Nashville. I sent Nat our secret code to call me, but she never hung up her phone. I heard your whole conversation.

Noah:

Noah:

Kate: Yeah, that pretty much sums up my feelings ATM.

Noah: That’s 100% my bad. I took the phone from Nat and guess I didn’t hang it up.

Noah: Nat is one of my best friends but we also work together. I’m sorry, but I’m not comfortable discussing this.

Kate: I understand. And I salute your loyalty. Not just professionally, but to her personally.

Kate: I just need to know one thing: is Nat okay?

Noah: Honestly (and off the record!) she’s a wreck.

Kate: What about Hart?

Noah: She broke up with him at the showcase.

Dash read the whole text thread twice, then handed the phone back to Kate. “I bet this Noah guy crapped his pants when he read your text.”

“Oh, he was pretty upset with himself. I called him immediately. We’ve never really talked. I only have his number for emergencies. It took some prying, but I got a few things out of him. He was very apprehensive about saying anything to betray Natalie’s trust, but he’s worried about her. He did say she was in better spirits when he left."

Dash digested these facts while his food remained largely untouched.

"Kate, I am so sorry. I lied to both of you, and to your father. I feel like shit, but at the time, I didn't know what to do. It was your father's birthday party. I couldn't let the bomb drop right there in front of everyone."

A bomb that would blow up the party, our relationship, and my heart.

"I understand why you did what you did. I'm sure it wasn't easy. You were trying to protect all of us. And it wasn't only on you at that point. Natalie could have said something."

"I should have come clean to you first. I went behind your back and talked to Natalie. That was wrong. That's the real reason I went to see Miranda. I needed outside counsel. Of course, she told me the one thing I've known all along—that I had to tell you the truth at the first opportunity."

"Well, you haven't been the only one to withhold the truth." Kate dropped her eyes for a moment.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean if we're competing for Liar of the Year, I think I might have you beat."

"I don't get it," Dash said, shaking his head.

"The last few months with my late husband were pretty bad and I was in a dark place for a long time after his death. In the last year, I've been pressured by everyone I know to start dating again.”

“Colt went through the same thing after his fiancée died. Everyone wanted to set him up, as if that would magically make the pain go away.”

“Right? Cookie forced me to go with him that night we met at the gallery. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He was determined to dress me up and get me back in the ring, as it were. I kinda latched on to you to get him off my back.”

“Oh. I see.”

Wait a minute. Is she feeling exactly what I’ve been feeling?