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I give Lewis a wave as he gets in his car and drives away. When I make it back inside, I’m tearing up.
Alice sees me, and her concern is immediate and valid.
“Babe!” she gasps. “What did he say?”
“Nothing,” I blubber. “I just—I just—he just?—”
“I can kill two men,” she says soothingly. “Don’t worry about it.”
I laugh. It comes out a bit wet, but it feels good. “I just feel guilty,” I admit, sniffling.
The phone rings before Alice can answer.
I glance at my screen and hesitate. Alice notices.
“Don’t you?—”
I answer. “Hello?”
“Dare,” she finishes.
“Hi, Laura,” David says. “I thought it would be a good idea to touch base.”
It’s unnecessarily professional, and it makes my spine straighten a bit automatically. I know he’s right, but I’m not happy about it. “Should I come over?”
“No, I—I’m sorry, I don’t think that’s a good idea. My son…”
His son hates my fucking guts. “I understand,” I say honestly. What kid wouldn’t hate me in that situation? But… better me than him, I guess. “Do you want to come here?”
David hesitates, and when he talks, he sounds apologetic. “The kids are asleep.”
“The phone, then,” I sigh.
“The phone.”
He’s quiet a moment and then says, “There must be a way to get out of this.”
“Is that what you want?” For some reason, this hurts my feelings.
“I want you to not be… forced into this.”
“I think it was me who said the lie,” I say ruefully.
“Don’t you dare blame yourself!” Alice interrupts, clearly eavesdropping. I roll my eyes and wave her away.
“Is that…” David’s voice is tight, almost annoyed.
It makesmeannoyed. I scowl, and Alice gets that look on her face that makes me afraid she’ll throw my phone in the toilet.
“Alice,” I say warningly. David hums, and I realize I ratted myself out. “I’ve told her about the… updates.” I hedge.
“Right.”
It annoys me. “I won’t hear any complaints about her. Got it?”
I mime, zipping my lips to Alice, and then go hide in the bedroom. I close the door as quietly as I can.
“Got it.”
