“Anyway, Merge is overly excited, girl… more than he’s trying to act!”
That was a lie, but Talia didn’t need to know that.
“So, you’re staying with them, I’m guessing?” Talia questioned. “I mean, that was one of the requirements.”
“Well… neither menorZonnique is staying in his house at thisexactmoment; we’re technically roommates in hers,” I explained casually. “Merge is doing renovations or whatever richmen do when they randomly decide walls need to move. He just wants to make sure everything will beperfectbefore he fully bringsmein.”
I leaned forward slowly.
“You wanna know another secret? Zonnique isn’t even his fiancée.”
Talia blinked repeatedly. “W-What?”
“Right!” I exclaimed. “Girl, that was my exact reaction! The bitch was lying! She wants himthatbad she literally went behind his back and found a surrogate trying to secure herself a babyanda ring at the same time! Girl, you know Jace cut up!” I shook my head, relishing the moment, but the moment I realized I saidJaceinstead of Merge, a cold wave of panic washed over me.
Shit.
Talia froze mid-bite of her food.
“Jace?” she echoed slowly, suspicion creeping into her voice. “As in yourexJace?”
My stomach tightened instantly, but I forced a casual smile anyway, tilting my head slightly as ifshewas the confused one.
“I said Merge. You must’ve heard me wrong.”
“No, I didn’t.”
I waved her off dismissively. “Talia, it’s clear that you’re tired, stressed, and malnourished. Hell, you might even be delirious.”
Talia squinted at me. “I may beallthose things, but I know what I heard. You called Merge Jace. Back here, you spoke as if Merge was supposed to be this other guy from your past. Despite you saying otherwise, I still suspected that you were referring to Jace, but I let it go. Butthistime, you actually saidJace.”
The voices instantly erupted, screaming over one another.
Fix it!
Lie!
Kill her!
No! Don’t kill her!
You’re caught!
I’M NOT CAUGHT!
Technically, you are a little caught.
Shut up!
Between the voices shouting contradictory instructions and Talia staring at me like she had just solved the mystery of the century, I saidfuck it.
I was tired of defending myself and tired of everybody acting like I was too stupid to recognize the man I loved just because he had changed his name and committed himself to the lie.
“Okay, yes! I’m talking about Jace!” I exploded, my voice cracking with frustration. “Is that what you wanted to hear?! Congratulations, Detective Talia! You cracked the case. Somebody alert the authorities and get this woman a badge!”
I threw my hands into the air.
“There! Happy now?”
