It’s just me.
Lacee Warren, a simple girl from Leavenworth, Washington that found the one man that truly understands every aspect of her.
When we get into the hall, I keep walking.
“Sienna, wait?” he calls after me. I pause my steps, slowly turning around to face him. “Or Lacee or whatever your name is.” He stops in front of me. “I guess I still don’t know what to call you or what version of you I’m getting.”
It’s like someone kicked me in the chest, stinging my heart. I hide my hurt with a puff of laughter. “Seriously? How do you still not know who I am?”
“I mean, Iknowwho you are. I just don’t know the real you or what to trust. I feel like we have to redo every single conversation again so I can try and weed out all the lies.”
His words shake my confidence, and my hope of a future between us crumbles. I can’t be with someone if they’re constantly wondering in the back of their mind if I’m being real or not. I told Park at the Port of Seattle that everything between us was genuine. I’m not sure what more I can say to make him believe that, and I’m not even sure hewantsto believe that.
“Don’t worry,” I shake my head, carefully putting my mask in place, “we don’t have to redo every conversation. Christmas is over, and so is this mission. We’ll go our separate ways. And who knows? Maybe we’ll see each other every once in a while out in the field.”
“I didn’t want a new assignment. I just…” He looks down at the paper in his hand. “I don’t know how to trust in us…inyou. I don’t want to get played again.”
A small sliver of hope ignites inside me.
“That’s not going to happen. I’m the same person you thought I was.” I take a step forward. “Maybe we can get together tomorrow night and talk this all through.”
“Isn’t tomorrow New Year’s?”
“Yeah.”
“I have a date. I—”
“Oh.” My brows skyrocket, and I have a hard time keeping my expression even. He has a freaking date! I’m such an idiot. “Another time, then.”
Park frowns. “It’s not—”
“Look who it is!” Derek comes down the hall with a big smile on his face. “It’s the dynamic trio reunited again—theheroes,if you will.” He stops right in front of us. “I was wrong. I love being a hero and saving the entire CIA. I’ve even had people ask if I’m thinking about becoming a field agent and leaving my desk job behind. I’d be like a double threat—computer genius and skilled operative.”
I glance over his scrawny body, noting the way he keeps pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, I can see how threatening you’d be.”
“Very dangerous,” Park adds.
We both stand there for a second, looking at Derek, not knowing what else to say. I mean, how many different ways does Park have to spell out that our relationship is over?
Take the hint, Lace!
“Is everything okay?” Derek’s gaze flips back and forth between us. “Did I interrupt something?”
“Yeah, no.” I force a fake laugh, not even sure my answer made sense.
“Why wouldn’t things be okay?” Park scoffs.
“I was just leaving.” I glance at my watch. “I have a flight to Seattle to catch.” My eyes dart to Park. “I’m spending New Year’s with my family since I missed Christmas.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Park gestures down the hall.
“Actually,” Derek slugs Park on the shoulder like they’re best pals, “I have some paperwork I need you to sign. You know, clearing my name for all of those times you asked me to illegally look things up for you.”
“Can’t it wait?” Park asks.
“No, I’m afraid not.” Derek points to Sharon Pickering’s office. “We need to go over it with the Director.”
“Don’t worry about me.” I start walking backward. “We’ll catch up later.”
