Page 108 of Shallow

I balance my keys in my mouth as I type back a quickresponse.

ME:And I should give a shit…why?

WILL:She told him everything about what you two planned to do toShiloh.

ME:She can’t proveanything.

WILL:No, but he’s twisting it into a not guilty defense that she was coerced by your revelations of what Shiloh did to you seven years ago. I wish you’d confided in me, Cary. You need to get ready for a shitstorm of badpress.

I should’ve seen this coming a mile away. The McDaniels have the shadiest motherfucker to ever take the bar exam on retainer. Of course she’d try to pin this onme.

ME:Again, she has no proof, and I’ve already served my time. Shiloh did nothing. Caseclosed.

WILL:Most likely, but that’s not all. Have you checked the headlines thismorning?

ME:No. Why would I dothat?

WILL:Just look. What the hell have you donenow?

There’s that feeling when you’re on a rollercoaster, when you turn the corner right before the huge drop. Your stomach tenses because you know what’s coming. That’s what it feels like as I pull up my search engine and type in the name for our local news station. As soon as I click on the link and read the headline, the floor drops out from underme.

Owner of Local Community Center Accused of Allegedly Embezzling Money From Fallen Model

Thirty-Seven

Shiloh

“He’s been hereall day, Shiloh,” Will says as we wait for the paperwork to process. “Can’t you just give him five minutes? It’s not like you can avoid him forever. He’s still your boss, youknow.”

“You think I don’t know that?” I yell. I promised myself I’d try to keep my composure, but I don’t careanymore.

Do I know that he’s still myboss?

Hell, it’s the only thing I can think about. How am I’m going to walk into work every day and face him? The man who held me in his arms and swore I’d never belong to anyone else. The man who risked everything to drag secrets out of Taryn while hiding his own behind meaningless words and cheapsex.

See, there’s a difference in my evil and his. My immorality happens in the heat of the moment. I strike and forget, moving on like a bee flying from flower to flower. His immorality is calculated. Designed to inflict maximum pain and torture at just the right moment. He’s patient enough to wait seven years for it. Even if his conscience got the better of him in the final hour, it doesn’t erase the scars he’s left. I may have caused my own scar, but he’s inflicted a deeperone.

Will sinks back into his chair and crosses his arms. “If you won’t talk to him, how do you plan on communicating when you go back to the Kincaid Center? Signlanguage?”

“Hand gestures,” I answer, lifting my middlefinger.

He raises his palms. “Enough, I got it.” A few awkward moments of silence pass before he reaches into the inside breast pocket of his suit jacket and produces a plain white envelope. “Look, he had a feeling you’d do this, so he gave me this.” Giving it one shake in the air, he tosses it on the table in front ofme.

“What the hell isthis?”

“He’s still protecting you, you know. Taryn’s accusations of what you did are running rampant and he refuses not to claim guilt for it. If you won’t see him, at least hear him out.” I’m so mesmerized by the envelope, I don’t hear him stand and walkout.

Ten minutes later, I’m still staring at the letter like it’s a venomous snake ready to strike. It’s just a simple white envelope with my name scribbled across the front. I know it’s his handwriting because it’s choppy and frantic with sharpedges.

I have every intention on walking out of the room with that unopened letter still sitting on that table. I don’t want to know what he has to say. I don’tcare.

Except Ido.

I rip open the envelope and the simple sheet of notebook paper is unfolded and in my shaking hands before I can stopmyself.

DearStarshine,

I told you a long time ago that whether you want me to or not, I’ll always be there to catch you when you fall. If you’re reading this letter, I guess you’ve forgottenthat.