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“Ifyou want me to give this marriage a fair chance, then the handcuffs need to go,"Istated firmly.
Damonshook his head. “Handcuffsstay on.”
“Handcuffscome off ifIprove myself,”Irenegotiated. “Thereis an incentive for me not to run because then you’ll never let me off the hook again.”
Damonconsidered my proposition. “Nohandcuffs during the day, but we sleep with them on.”
Thesuggestion made sense.Damonslept just as soundly as me for five hours a day and wouldn’t wake up ifItried to escape in his sleep.
Witha slight nod,Iagreed.Damongrasped at the cuffs and played with the lock.Theyfell off, andIwrung out my reddened wrists.
“Better?”
Inodded before continuing with my conditions. “Ialso need you to arrange a private conversation withSophie.”
Damonscoffed incredulously. “Youcan’t be serious.”Hiseyebrows lifted in amusement as if he had heard the funniest joke on earth.
“Thisis non-negotiable,"Iasserted. “Ihave no interest in her;Ihave told you that numerous times.However,Ineed to have a conversation with her to straighten some things out.”
RayyanandSophielived inSandsPoint, a few blocks away from my mother.SophiewasRayyan’snext-door neighbor.Onthe night of his death,Rayyangot incredibly high, andIpersonally delivered him home before retiring toMomandZane’shouse.Therewas no one else in the house, nor were there cars in the driveway.
Sophieclaimed to have witnessedDamonexitingRayyan’shouse.ButDamontold me he never stalked me toSandsPoint, andIbelieved him.Notto mention,Damonwasn’t stupid enough to drive toSandsPointand hurtRayyanin his own home after a public spat.EvenifDamonwanted to killRayyan, he would’ve waited until the heat was off him.Apublic altercation with the victim automatically madeDamonthe number-one suspect.
“Why?”Damonpushed.
Ididn’t want to disclose the real reason. “That’sbetween her andI.”
“So, you keep saying.”
“Youcan monitor us onCCTVwithout sound, butIwant an audience withSophie, and the conversation must remain private.Ifyou want me to give our marriage a real chance, talking to other people comes with the territory.”
Damondidn’t agree or disagree.Instead, he asked, “Anythingelse?”
Itook a deep breath. “Mychildhood psychologist once said that people like me had no problem lying but couldn’t deal with liars.”Partof the reason whyDamon’sbetrayal stung so much. “So,Ineed you to be honest with me about some things.”
Hiseyes narrowed at the threat of the foreboding questions. “Ifeel like you already have a topic in mind.”
Itwas both ridiculous and a relief how well he knew me.Therewas never a need for childish games or trite explanations.
“Whatreally happened toParis?”
Damondidn’t miss a beat. “Iblackmailed him into never seeing you again, thenIasked him to jump off a balcony.Hewas admitted to the same hospital asRose.”
“Hm.”Ididn’t care what happened toParisbut used the question to testDamon'snew honesty policy. “You’vebeen following me for years but never inZane’shouse.Whyis that?”
“Thesecurity was too tight,” he replied immediately.
“So, you didn’t track me whenIwent home toSandsPoint?Wasthere anywhere elseIwent where you didn’t have eyes on me?”
Heshook his head. “Ialso couldn’t see you during your winter breaks.Theinternship took place in a closed campus, andIcouldn’t get in.”Astrange emotion resonated inDamon'svoice, oneIcouldn’t comprehend. “ButIwould've found a way ifIhad known how you spent your mother's anniversary.”
Ifroze.Icarefully avoided this topic whenDamonbrought it up the other day.Itwouldn’t bode well for me to grease the wheels ofDamon’sjealousy.
Ilost my virginity during my winter internship atCornellon my mother’s wedding anniversary.Itwas the first holidayIspent without family, andIwas feeling sorry for myself at a dorm party.Thenight ended with a lot of booze and a resident assistant who was acceptable under certain lighting.Iwas fifteen, he was twenty-one, and in hindsight, it was a terrible decision.
SinceIwas a person of habit, it became an annual tradition of sorts, booze, sex, and partying, and not necessarily in that order.Atsixteen,Ireturned toCornelland hooked up with a girl whose name escapes me.Thefollowing year, it wasTom.Thisyear,Idecided against going away and choseSophie.
However,Damonhappened instead.
