“So basically, you have no proof. If you'll excuse me, I have more important things to worry about.”
Like convincing Sarah I wasn't the devil. The other night, curled up with her on the couch in front of the fire, was the happiest I'd been in forever. Happy, but terrified.
I wanted that back.
“Dang it, Asher! What could be more important than this? They're hiding something big, something that involves all of us.”
“So what if Emma's actually Charles' daughter?” I said quietly so Sarah didn't overhear. “Big deal. Changes nothing for us. Nobody needs to know.”
“But what if that fact did change things? Maybe it could change everything.”
Macy always found a way to rope me into her schemes, even when we were little. Now, as it had before, this one was sure to land us all in a heap of trouble.
“Even if you're right, he's locked up whatever proof he has in the safe.”
“Maybe I have a way to open it,” she said with a wry laugh.
“Oh god. What did you do?”
“Hurry up and get here already! And, uh, bring Sarah if you can. This involves her family. She deserves to know... whatever it is.”
“Ah. Is that some empathy I see you showing for the first time in your life?”
“Think what you like,” she sniffed. “Anyway, I actually kind of like her. She's nice. Not a bitch. It's a bit refreshing.”
“Compared to your typical menagerie of 'friends,' I'm sure.”
She spat some curses at me and hung up. I turned to find Sarah, but couldn't. Where had she run off to?
Someone was crying softly, somewhere. Worried that it was her, I followed the sound past dusty shelves to a little office in the back. Inside was Sarah and Lana, with tears rolling fast down her cheeks.
“I'm so sorry, Lana.”
“But what am I supposed to do? This is the only job I've ever had. I don't want to leave,” she sobbed.
Maybe I was an asshole for eavesdropping, but that was just what I did.
“Well, you don't have to do anything just yet,” Sarah said carefully. “But you know our sales suck. Before, we were struggling to buy new inventory and pay bills. With all the excitement around the mall that's coming, it doesn't look good.”
“But... But you got to keep the store! And stupid Slicker Image is going to shut down.” Lana's shoulders fell. “It isn't fair.”
Sarah stared out the dirty little window at the construction crew that had begun to set up. Right after the new year, those bastards were going to tear my store, my baby, to the ground. Rage boiled in me, enough for the two of us.
“That's just life. Even when all the pieces fall into place, sometimes it isn't enough.”
Lana pulled out her phone and frowned at whatever was on the screen.
“My parents are having a tough time too. Guess I won't get to be Elias' sister after all.” She looked up at Sarah with a very odd expression. “You know, if that wedding had gone through, you'd have been set for sure.”
“It was all fake, remember? The divorce had been planned from the very start. Doubt I'd be getting much alimony for a six-week marriage.”
“What if you stayed together, though?”
She scoffed. “Asher doesn't know the first thing about commitment, and I sure don't wanna be his test dummy. Besides, I only ever wanted to marry for love. Not for whatever this circus is.”
“Maybe Asher actually cares about you,” Lana suggested, and for once I agreed with her.
“Not a chance.”
“Maybe you're in love with him.”
I covered my mouth so they wouldn't hear me hyperventilating over here in the corner. Oh, crap. What would she say? If she said yes, what the hell was I gonna do? Because that changed everything.
And if she said no, well... That thought frightened me even more.
“I, uh,” she stammered. “I don't know why you'd think – ”
The loud ringing of the phone in my pocket announced my presence to all. I whipped it out angrily; of course it was Macy, probably wondering why I hadn't arrived yet.
Sarah and Lana gaped at me. I stuffed the phone back in its place with a nervous chuckle.
“I thought you left,” Sarah muttered. “Figured you had somewhere more important to be.”
“Are you kidding? Where else is more important than here with you?”
Lana mouthed “Aww, how cute,” while Sarah gritted her teeth, apparently not amused. When I put an arm around her, though, she didn't push me away. I led her out of the office so we could talk privately.
“Thought I asked you to knock this kind of stuff off. I can't just go back to the way things were... before.”
I held her tighter. Despite her bitter words, she relaxed against me. Mm, goodness, she was lovely.
“Neither can I.”
She looked up at me, not understanding. I didn't quite get it either.
“We can talk about it later, but right now Macy wants us to head to my dad's place. Says maybe she's found the real secret everyone's hiding.”
“Don't see why it makes a difference now.”
“Maybe it doesn't, but I want to know.” I scooped her tiny hand into mine. “And I'd like you there with me. Please?”
She started to protest, but couldn't hold out for long.
“Fine. But if this turns out to be nothing, let's just forget all about it and move on with our lives. That's what grandma wanted us to do.”
“Agreed.”
She shook off my hand and went to ask Lana to watch the shop. My skin tingled where we had touched. Even now, Lana's words to her still haunted my mind.
Maybe she loved me.
Oh, how I hoped
