Page 27

Sixteen
Cari
I watch as Sara pushes her way out the front door, Patrick in hot pursuit, calling after her. She stops and turns toward him on the sidewalk in front of the window. He says something that stuns her, and she reaches out, hand clutched around his bicep. He keeps pushing her hand away, but she keeps grabbing him, mouth moving fast as she explains herself.
I did it for you.
I just wanted you to see her for who she really is.
You’re too good for someone like her.
I still love you.
Whatever she’s saying, Patrick stands quietly and listens, a bland expression on his face. When she finally runs out of steam, he says something to her before turning and disappearing around the corner.
I slide into an empty stool at the bar, and Tess sets a pint glass full of ice in front of me, giving it a long pour of Kettle One. Aiming the gun over the rim, she tops it with club soda.
“You don’t get to drink it until you tell me what happened,” she says, adding a lime wedge into my glass.
I give her the Cliff-notes, the lawsuit against Patrick is being dropped. James is probably going to jail. Someone’s going to have to stop Con from suing Jackson Howard for his daughter’s part in releasing my video.
“Stop him?” Tess says, digging a couple of longnecks out of the cooler. “If Con’s burning that fucker to the ground, I’m bringing the marshmallows.” She uses an opener to take their caps off before passing the bottles across the bar.
“It’s not Mr. Howard’s fault his daughter got sucked into all this,” I say, “And in the end, Sara did the right thing. That should stand for something.”
“She only spoke up to save Patrick,” Tess says, eyes wide. “She didn’t blow the whistle until after she snuck into James office and posted that video from his computer. That should stand for something.”
“I just want to put this week behind me, Tess,” I tell her, trying to explain. “I want to forget it ever happened, okay.”
She opens her mouth to argue some more but snaps it shut. “Okay.” She nods. “Whatever you want. Whatever you need.”
“I need a place to stay,” I say. “Just for a few days, until I can get myself situated.”
Again, Tess opens her mouth like she’s going to say something. Again, she clamps it closed and nods. “Okay.”
At the other end of the bar, Declan pops the tops on a round of expensive imports for a tight cluster of white-collars—not Gilroy’s usual crowd.
Every once in a while, one of them looks at me until one of them get brave enough to approach me. I recognize him. He’s a friend of James’.
Shit.
“Hey, Cari,” he says, sidling up to the bar, wedging himself between my stool and the empty stool next to me. “Remember me?”
I stare straight ahead. Catching sight of Tess from the corner of my eye, I give her a small head shake, telling her to stay out of it. “Vaguely.”
Laughing like I said something funny, he leans in a bit closer. “How about I buy you a drink. We can catch-up.” He reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out a wad of cash, held together with a gold money clip. Nice suit. Expensive watch. Slicked back hair.
A week ago, I’d be eating out of this guy’s hand. Knowing that about myself makes me sad and a little sick.
I look at the untouched drink in front of me before looking him in the eye. “I’m good, but thank you.”
“You sure are,” he says, dragging a soft, manicured finger down the length of my bare arm, making my flesh crawl.
“Excuse me?” jerking my arm away from his touch.
“You’re famous,” he says, angling his body closer, leaning close so he can whisper in my ear. “My buddies and I’ve been watching your video all day—to be honest, you’re the reason we’re here. We were hoping you’d be down for some fun.”
“Fun?” I scoff. “With you? I’d rather run into a burning building.” I turn in my seat, sliding off in the other direction.