Page 22 of Diluted Truths

I had tried to figure out why Fai had so much distaste towards Will.

Just yesterday at our usual family dinner, I subtly brought up the subject of him. By subtly, I blatantly asked Sarah how Will was doing. This caused a five minute rant about why Will was a bad influence and why I shouldn’t ask about him.

“You okay, Jackie?” I looked up to see Oliver standing in my office doorway. I was so lost in my thoughts I hadn’t heard him come in.

“Yeah. I just want to go,” I responded as I looked back down at my desk trying to hide the guilt I felt.

Oliver sighed as he sat down in his usual chair across my desk. “You are making the best decision. We are making the best decision.” I hoped he was right. “Can I ask you something?”

“Always, Olly,” I responded with a smirk, using the nickname he hated hoping to lighten the mood.

Besides an eye roll, he ignored my comment. “Are you not telling Fai about what you’re doing because of the case and its ties to a cult, or because of Will?”

I had been asking myself the same question.

Fai believed I was going to visit my sister in San Francisco with Oliver. As far as he knew, the case with Joey has gone dormant and I stopped digging. Goldie has helped, telling him some excuse that I was helping her with research and that's why I had no active cases right now.

Because of me, all of us are lying to Fai. The guilt had been eating away at me.

“Truth?”

“Always,” Oliver responded.

“I don’t know,” I stated, matter of factly. Oliver nodded his head in response before leaving my office. He knew I didn’t have any more details to give him.

Itrulydidn’t know.

This is why Oliver was my closest friend. He knew exactly when to push me and when to leave me be.

In life there were days that felt heavier than others, not for any reason. It was just harder to wake up, to exist, to think. Oliver understood when I had those days and knew how to help me. I was lucky to have him.

I jumped at the sound of my office phone ringing. “Jackie James, your not so humble servant at your service,” I responded with my usual spiel.

“Is that how you always answer the phone?” Will asked as he laughed on the other end of the line.

I laughed at the man who was slowly worming his way into my life. “Maybe. What do you want, Will? Why are you calling?”

“Do I need a reason?” he retorted.

It was almost as if having the phone between us allowed him to gain back some of the charm he tended to lose in my presence.

“Yes.”

Will laughed again, the sound making me forget about my previous worries. “Valid. I was wondering if you needed a ride to the airport?”

“Oliver is actually driving, but thank you for thinking about me,” I responded, a stupid smile growing on my face.

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll meet you there, Ophelia.”

“Nope. You don’t get to call me that.”

“Why not?” Will whined, in a very joking manner.

“Do you want me to call you William Jr.?” I retorted, knowing that would shut him down fast.

“Fine, I get it. I’ll see you there, Jacqueline.” With that he hung up the phone, making me wonder where he learned my middle name and why him calling me that made my heart rate speed up.

It was interesting getting to know Will. I was used to hearing stories about the professor from Sarah and Fai. However, the man I was getting to know did not match either description.