Page 4 of Fake Coral and Keys

Resisting the urge to check my watch again, I jerk my head towards the large pathway circling the lake. “Let’s walk.”

TJ slowly rises from the bench, stretching his arms and looking around in the least subtle way possible, like the random joggers are spying on us.

“Can you be any more obvious?” I ask.

“Probably?” he hisses and leans towards me. “I don’t do this every day.”

“I can’t tell.” Sarcasm tinges my words. I motion again to the path and start walking.

“I’m not a pro at the criminal lifestyle like you,” TJ says as he falls in step beside me.

Ignoring the snide remark, I remind myself that I need TJ. I need him to cover for me. Bad. I have to remind myself TJ isn’t a criminal. He’s the opposite of a criminal. He’s my parole officer.

“I’ve never done this before,” he says. It sounds more like he’s trying to reassure himself that he doesn’t take bribes every day to cover for his parolees.

“I know.” I sigh dramatically. He’s taken money from me before, but I know what he means, “I’m sorry it’s come to this.”

He makes a throaty sound that I’m not sure is a laugh or a grunt of disbelief. Okay, fine. I’m not that sorry.

“If you wait until Monday to file your check-in report, it’ll cover us for the next few days.” I let my eyes roam around the park. “This way, we avoid you filing that emergency leave order all together.”

TJ nods, but glances around as if asshole Judge Bryant, who court-ordered me to parole, then revoked my license, is hiding in the bushes waiting to bust him. This guy is definitely in the right profession. He’d never make it as anything else than a keeper of the law.

“Right,” he says. “File it on Monday, right as the court is closing.”

“Yes,” I agree. “That way, you’ll be covered, and it will show we met up today.”

He makes a sound in his throat. It’s like a groan, or maybe it’s his worry spilling out of him.

“By the time the paperwork goes through, I’ll be back, so you’ll never beactually lying.”

TJ throws a glance over his shoulder. “And no one would question me seeing you on a Monday instead of Friday, like I was supposed to.”

“No,” I say.

“No?”

“Yes,” I say slowly, like I’m speaking to a confused toddler. “You did see me Friday. Today.”

TJ nods slowly, catching on. “Right, I did see you Friday, but I forgot to file the paperwork and that’s why I’m going to do it late Monday.”

“Exactly.”

“Right,” TJ says, still nodding. “That way, there will be no need to file for an out-of-state emergency order.”

“Exactly,” I say. “That will only be necessary if something goes wrong.”

“And if I do file for the order, I put in the paperwork that your grandma is dying.” TJ stops and turns to look at me.

My shoulders sag.This isn’t hard, TJ. He’s done this before. I don’t know why he’s struggling with it now.

Five months ago, when I left for the weekend trip with Daisy, he’d covered my ass by turning a blind eye and filing the paperwork late. Right now, he’s helpingme so I can board a plane, fly to another state, and spend almost a week with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

“Aunt,” I say, growing more irritated by the second. I look at my watch and then up at the sky. It’s going to take me forty-five minutes to get to the airstrip, and that’s if I can get a cab to break the speed limit. “We have to stick to the story. It was my grandmother last time.”

“That’s right.” TJ resumes walking. “It’s your aunt this time.Aunt.Your aunt is in the hospital.”

“On Tuesday she will be if you have to file the paperwork.” I’m not entirely sure he’s paying attention. “I’m going to call for phone records to cover our asses in case I’m a few days longer and you have to file the order.”

---