Page 101 of Save Me

At the same time, our host brings us a menu and asks for our drink orders.

My mother orders her usual Aperol spritz, and it looks so good that I opt for the same.

“Sparkling water for me,” Riley tells the waiter.

“Yes,” I answer the question my mom asked before our drink order. “I was able to get a lead.”

I’m almost bursting at the seams to say more, but I can’t. Yet, the information Nicole gave me a few days ago over lunch could be huge. I spoke with James about it, and he even says it’s viable information and must be investigated thoroughly.

Then there’s the thumb drive Dae gave me. I spoke with some of the names in the file, and they all seem legitimate. Though the information he gave me isn’t related to Erika Dalton’s death, it still demonstrates Blackmon’s shady business practices.

“The pieces are coming together on this one,” I tell them.

My mom grins brightly. “Good.”

“If you ever need help, you can call me,” Riley adds.

“Thanks, sis.”

“Oh, and Eve can’t stop talking about horseback riding now.” She laughs. “She wants to take lessons.”

“Really?” That thrills me. “She has to take them with my former trainer, right, Mom?” I turn to my mom.

“I’ve already given her his information,” Mom says proudly.

“She’s going to love it.”

Riley grins. “The only reason she hasn’t started is because it took some convincing with Kyle.”

“Seriously?” I ask.

Riley nods and rolls her eyes as she recounts how overprotective my brother became at the thought of Eve regularly riding horses.

“He even told Eve about the time you broke your collarbone from falling off a horse.”

“He didn’t,” my mom and I both gasp at the same time.

“He did. Scared my Ladybug for two whole days.” She shakes her head.

“When I told him he was being ridiculous and reminded him that we’d already gone horseback riding and she loved it, he said it’s still a risk and that she needs to keep her head in the books.”

“Wait,” I interrupt. “Is that why he sent me that long text about filling Eve’s head up with dangerous endeavors or whatever he said?”

“Yes,” Riley says, laughing. “He was ridiculous.”

“Not surprising. Kennedy’s father lost it after she fell off that horse.”

I groan. “Don’t remind me. He hovered over me for weeks, and when I told everyone I wanted to continue riding, he was adamant that it was a no. I begged for days for him to let up. He finally did once my arm was out of that cast.”

My mom snorts. “You think he changed his mind because you asked him?”

I cock my head to the side.

She shakes her head. “Let’s just say it took a lot of convincing. I was scared to let you ride after that, but I knew you needed to confront your fears.”

“I don’t want to think of what you did to convince him,” I mumble.

“Convince who of what?” a deep, booming voice asks from behind me.

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