When Joey opened the door, he looked as disheveled as I felt.
“Piper,” he said. “God, I ... You’re here.”
“What happened?” I asked as I walked in the house. “Are you and Mitch okay?”
“We’re fine. It’s not about us.”
“Then what is this about? You look like you haven’t slept.”
I wrung my hands, wondering if I could push myself and hug him. I’d never managed it before, but this seemed like a good time to try. I was a wreck from the drive, but if it would help, I’d do it.
“It’s about Theo.”
That pulled me out of my thoughts. “Theo? What about him?”
“I’m sorry. I hate to tell you this. But it’s bad. Very bad.”
“Wh-what?”
“Theo is not who he says he is.”
My stomach sank. Actually, all of me did. “H-how did you find this out?”
“His shop is registered under his name. His full legal name, and you left the documents of your dad’s arrest at my place. You were quoted saying he got drugs from a family with the same last name. And he matches pictures I found online.”
Oh, God. “Joey, wait?—”
“I know this is a shock, but I think he’s targeting you. Have you told him about your past?”
I opened my mouth and then closed it. Scarlett had warned me that things could go wrong with me not telling Joey about everything Theo was.
“Hang on.” I put up my hands. “Let’s take a breath and think.”
“I’ve been up all night thinking.” He shook his head. “Piper, he’s from the family that sold drugs to your father. He’s one of them. You have to leave Strawberry Springs.”
“I-it’s?—”
“Piper, I’m sorry. But I have proof.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“It’s true. If you’ll just look?—”
“Joey, I know.” My voice came out loud, but I had to get him to stop.
“You ... know?” he repeated it slowly. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that someone came in that he knows. From ... our past. I’ve known since then.”
“When did this happen?”
“When ... when I called you panicking.”
Joey’s jaw dropped and his eyes popped out of his head. “I’m sorry,what? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I closed my eyes, my fear mixing with guilt. God, I should’ve handled this better. I wish I had. “Because you wouldn’t let me stay.”
“You’re damn right I wouldn’t have. It’s not safe.”
