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“Bad how?”
“It’s a long story.”
“When was the last time you saw him?”
“High school graduation.” That was plenty of information. I walked off before he could ask for more. It was embarrassing enough admitting that someone I knew that long ago still rattled me so much. The entire march to Marcel’s office, I could feel Denver’s eyes boring into me.
I ignored his silent pleas and knocked.
“There’s more to this,” Denver insisted.
“Of course there’s more. But I don’t want to say everything twice.” Or maybe at all. Once Marcel heard I knew someone in the group, maybe he’d pull us without me having to elaborate.
“Come in,” he called out.
I opened the door and moved to sit in one of the two chairs in front of Marcel’s desk. Denver slid into the other one. Marcel was eating a late lunch and had about eight different devices open. I felt bad for adding one more thing to his busy day. He seemed way too young to be practically running a company branch like this, but I also didn’t doubt his abilities.
He looked up at us. “What’s up?”
“I know someone in Zane’s group. He saw me in there and called me out.”
Marcel pulled up the thread to have a look for himself. “Kellen Tucker. How do you know this guy?”
“We went to high school together.”
“Okay. It’s not great, but it does happen and it’s not a deal breaker. Unless he knows you work for us.”
“He doesn’t know, but I’d rather not see him again, if I’m being honest.”
“Did you two date or something?”
“No. But we were friends.” I glanced at Denver. He was trying to act like he wasn’t listening with every fiber of his being, and not fooling me one bit.
Marcel didn’t miss my hesitation. “Denver, will you step out for a minute while I talk to Sadie?”
“Sure.” Denver gazed at me before he got up, though what he was trying to convey, I wasn’t sure, at least until he spoke. “I’ve never known you to be afraid of anyone, Sadie.”
His steady confidence warmed me up all over in a way I wished Marcel wasn’t witnessing. But Denver’s words were anything but true. I was afraid all the time. I was especially afraid of the way he looked at me, even when I wasn’t nice to him.
Once he left, the vise I kept on my secrets loosened a little bit. Which was good. I didn’t want to waste more of Marcel’s time. So, I dove right in. About how I’d once had a best friend, and how I’d thought my crush on him was a secret. And how wrong I’d been about both of those things.
Chapter 22 – Denver
I’m not sure what Marcel said to convince Sadie to stay on the assignment. I was just glad she decided to stay. I had this gut feeling she needed to put YesMan in her rearview mirror, and maybe run back over him for good measure. Metaphorically, of course.
There had been a sadness when she’d talked about him. This guy had hurt her somehow. And I hated that. Even worse, the guy was oblivious to it. Or maybe just in denial. He kept talking in the thread about how amazing it would be to see her again at the club that weekend. The group had decided to all go stag. No dates, just a group meeting up and sticking together.
Sadie, who had never gone clubbing before, didn’t fight me on driving in together again, although she decided to leave her car at my place rather than have me come to her apartment. This was not as out-there as newsraiding, but definitely not a place to come alone. There was no way I’d be letting her out of my sight. Zane might be my assignment, but Sadie was my priority, whether she considered us friends or not.
“This job is a never-ending game of Truth or Dare,” she muttered as we walked up and got in line outside the club. She frowned and tugged at her dress. It was silky and black, with straps that crossed in the back behind her shoulders and then went around her waist and tied in the front.
“You look great,” I assured her. It was the understatement of the year. I’d been tongue-tied for almost a minute when I showed up at her door.
“Yeah, yeah. Save the you-go-girling for someone who cares.”
“Sadie.”
I waited until she was looking at me. Really looking at me. Lost my train of thought. Considered telling her how I really felt. Thought better of it. “You go, girl.” I smiled.
