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“Michaela is pretty tall. Five-eleven and a half, to be exact. So… it could’ve been her.”
“Yeah. With the beanie to hide her hair and some bulky clothes, it definitely could’ve been her. And like I said earlier, she could’ve stabbed herself in the stomach and beaten herself around the head to make it look like she was just as much of a victim as everyone else. It’s totally fucking unhinged, but it’s not unheard of.” He hesitated for a second, brows furrowing. “She could’ve also left Tate totally unharmed to make him look suspicious. It’s actually quite smart.”
“Come to think of it…” I paused and bit my bottom lip. “You know how I said Tate has been acting weird lately?”
“Yes.”
“It’s only when Michaela is around.”
Paxton frowned. “You think he might suspect her, and that’s why he’s been acting that way?”
“Maybe. It’s worth asking.”
He nodded and fished his keys out of his pocket. “Lead the way.”
My heart raced for the entire journey over to Tate’s place. My skin was tingling too, as if my body sensed that I was getting closer and closer to the truth.
When we arrived at the flashy Foggy Bottom apartment building, I pressed on Tate’s buzzer, feet nervously shifting around on the stoop. Paxton gave my back a reassuring rub. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “I’m here.”
I swallowed hard and nodded as the front door finally swung open. Tate appeared before us, and his eyes instantly widened when he saw who I was standing with. “Oh my god, you’re back. Are you—” His eyes flashed to Paxton, then back to me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just needed some space for a few days.”
“Right.” He looked at Paxton again. “So… uhh… did you two make up?”
I nodded. “Yes. I know he didn’t try to kill us that night at the lake house.”
“And I’ve completely forgiven her for thinking I did,” Paxton added.
I gave him a side-eyed glance, and he smiled at me and squeezed my hand. He hadn’t actually said those words out loud before now—that he’d forgiven me for what I did to him. It warmed me from the inside out and made me feel a hundred times lighter, like I was floating.
“Well, um… that’s cool. I’m happy for you guys.” Tate still looked very confused, but he turned to the side and motioned inside the foyer. “Do you want to come up for a drink? I was about to grab a beer and watch the baseball.”
“Just a glass of water would be great,” I replied, stepping inside.
“Me too,” Paxton said.
Tate led us upstairs and into his apartment. Then he went off to the kitchen while we settled on the couch. He returned with two glasses of water and a bottle of beer tucked under one arm.
As he handed one of the glasses to Paxton, he grinned and raised his brows. “Man, it feels so weird having you at my place.”
“Why?”
“Honestly?” Tate chuckled and shook his head. “It’s so stupid, but… I really didn’t like you back in the day, for being so close to Sienna. Did you ever notice?”
Paxton nodded. “Yeah, it was pretty obvious.”
“God, I was such an idiot when I was a kid.” Tate cringed theatrically. Then he lifted a palm. “But don’t worry, I got over that little crush a long time ago. Also, on that note… Sienna, I have some news.”
“Oh?”
“Remember when I told you about that girl from my microbiology class?”
I nodded slowly. “Emily, right?”
“Yup. I finally asked her out this morning. She said yes. So we’re going out on Friday night.”
“That’s awesome!”
