Page 149 of Cheater

“So, do I bring you the borrowed and blue and old and new? What should I wear? What are you wearing? What’s the deal?”

“I haven’t a clue.”

Her voice drops lower as she asks, “You want me to meet you in the bathroom with a plane ticket and a SWAT team so you can get outta Dodge?”

“Maybe…” I say immediately.

“Totally?” she asks.

“One sec,” I whisper.

I come out, wondering where he is.

He’s come back to the master suite but is now outside on the small balcony that looks out from the foot of the bed through sliding doors. The doors are shut, and he’s leaned on the railing, admiring the view, I guess. He looks casual, not like he can hear me.

I try to pull my thoughts together.

“What do you need, Chloe?” she asks, urgently. “Is there some way you can tell me so I can help you?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper. “I don’t have a clue. I was gonna ask someone in his family to help, but they were all… out there. Way out there. I did everything but stomp my feet and scream and they don’t give a fuck as long as Derek handles things so that I don’t go to the press. He’s got them believing he’ll win me over. They’re acting like him blackmailing me into being with him is the healthiest thing he’s done lately. It's so fucked up, Lan.”

“I’ll help you get out of this.”

I frown. “I don’t know if you can without getting caught in his crosshairs.”

“Leave it to me.”

“You sound awfully confident. You have a plan already?”

“Not entirely, but no way am I going to just sit back and do nothing here. Show up tomorrow and follow my lead.”

I hold the phone as my heartrate picks up.

“I’ve got you,” she whispers.

“I can’t let something bad happen to you.”

“You can’t let him away with this,” she counters.

“Ugh,” I grunt.

“Gonna go figure this out,” Alannah says.

“I don’t know, Lan…”

“Follow my lead tomorrow.”

“Love you lots,” I say. “Please be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I’m a big girl. I know my way around drama and trauma. Tiptoed through a few minefields in my day so far. Love you, babe. You’re okay though?”

“Weirded out beyond measure. Nervous about fallout no matter what I do, but I guess I’m okay. As okay as I can be.”

“Right. Zero chance you’re thinking of giving it a whirl and hoping for the best with him?” she asks.

“God no. What? That’s nuts.”

Dead air.

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