“You have a dog in your bed,” Addie says, going for a bit of levity.
“So it seems.” A herd of elephants can invade my bedroom if that will make Natalie happy. “And isn’t it just my luck that Fluff is immune to my many charms?”
Addie suppresses a laugh. “So you’ve finally encountered the one female on earth who isn’t bowled over by Flynn Godfrey?”
“So it seems. She actually bit me and drew blood the day I met Natalie.”
“I might’ve heard about that.”
“Hayden’s been telling tales out of school again, huh?”
“I’ll never reveal my sources.”
My best friend and business partner is crazy about Addie, not that he’ll ever admit it to himself or to her. I suspect the attraction runs both ways, but Addie doesn’t talk about him to me, and I don’t ask.
I run my fingers through my hair repeatedly until I’m certain it has to be standing straight up. “Tell me what to do here, Addie. I’m at a total loss.”
“Just be there for her. She needs to know nothing has changed for you because of what happened today.”
“I’ve told her that already. I don’t know if she believes me.”
“Keep telling her until there can be no doubt.”
“I never expected to feel this way about anyone.”
Addie smiles at my confession. “It happens to the best of us.”
“I can’t lose her over this. I just can’t.”
“You won’t. When the dust settles, and it will, she’ll remember that you were with her through it all. That’ll matter.”
While I appreciate Addie’s vote of confidence, I wish I could be more certain that Natalie and I will get through this intact. How long will it take for her to blame me for ruining everything for her?
Chapter 2
I’ve wondered at times what it might be like if my secrets were revealed, but nothing could’ve prepared me to have the scab ripped off my wounds so suddenly and violently.
I feel violated all over again.
Fluff goes right into caretaker mode, licking away my tears the way she has since the beginning of my long nightmare. I’m happy to see Leah, my friend and roommate, but I can tell she has no idea what to say to me.
“I… um, for what it’s worth, everyone is pissed at Mrs. Heffernan for firing you,” Leah says. “My phone has been buzzing nonstop with texts from school. Sue even threatened to quit unless she hires you back.” Sue is the administrative assistant who runs the office at the Emerson School where Leah and I are first-year teachers.
Or I was until earlier today when I was fired for lying on my background check and for causing a disturbance at school. As if I invited the throngs of reporters to stake out my school hoping for a glimpse of me in my humiliated state.
“I know you don’t want to talk about it, and I totally respect that,” Leah says haltingly, “but I need you to know how sorry I am for everything you’ve been through, and how sorry I am for mocking you for being so virtuous all those times. I didn’t know, Nat.”
Her voice breaks, and I see she’s on the verge of tears.
I take hold of her hand. “Please don’t apologize. You didn’t know because I didn’t tell you or anyone. I wanted to forget it ever happened, but I found out today how easily the past can catch up to us.”
“Flynn must be dying over this.”
“He blames himself. It’s not his fault.”
“You can see how he’d think so. I mean, before you met him, no one would’ve cared about your past.”
“It’s still not his fault. He’s almost as upset as I am.”
“You might have to keep telling him you don’t blame him.”
I’m so tired. Whatever the doctor gave me to help me sleep is kicking in, and I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open.
“I’m going to leave and let you sleep. Can I call you tomorrow?”
“I wish you would.” I squeeze her hand. “Thanks for bringing Fluff over.”
“I was just glad to be able to do something for you.”
“Leah…” I force my eyes open to look up at her. “You’ve been the best friend I’ve had since my life fell apart. I just want to thank you for that.”
“Oh God, Nat, I’ve been an awful friend to you, always pushing you to step outside your comfort zone—”
“No, you’ve been wonderful, and most of what you said is true. It’s real between us, despite our differences. You have no idea how much I loved our normal, humdrum lives in that apartment.”
Leah wipes tears from her face. “You won’t be able to come back now, will you?”
“I have no idea what I’m going to do. Everything is a huge mess. I don’t know how I’ll be able to make the rent without a job.”
“The rent has been paid for both of you for the rest of the year,” Flynn says from the doorway. “I’ve also arranged for security for Leah until things die down.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “You… you paid our rent for a year?”
“Yes, I did, and don’t try to tell me I shouldn’t have. None of this would be happening if you hadn’t met me. Paying your rent and making things easier for both of you is the least I can do in light of the trouble I’ve caused you.”