Page 63 of Between Now and Always

I turn the computer around, and close my eyes against the wave of nausea.

I want to scream and cry and tear my hair out.

I play back all of my interactions with Dina. I don’t understand how I could have misjudged her. Shehatesmy father. Why would she be helping them?

My stomach feels like it’s been put into a vice as I recall the reluctance with which she agreed to be my bridesmaid.

I thought it was because she didn’t agree with my choices. Could it be that she and Duke were involved. That she was helping my family? What else could they be paying her for?

My mind races through the memories, cutting a circuit through all of the times she’d loved me and picked me up and encouraged me.

But when I get to the beginning of the loop that’s playing, I find myself facing a terrible possibility. It was the first thing I thought of when I saw the evidence of her betrayal.

I turn around, not caring that I’m interrupting Dean.

“Dina handled Carter’s DNA tests,” I blurt.

“Oh my God,” Dean breathes out.

“That fuckingbitch.” Phil’s voice is a low as the motor an engine.

“Do you think she tampered with them?” I ask. The idea that Dina could be involved in that kind of deception, for money, makes me want to throw up.

“I mean, it’s absolutely possible. She took the samples for testing,” Phil says.

“We need to get another test done. For all of you. Phil, between you and Carter. And, Beth betweenyouand Carter.”

Inside of me, hope - audacious and shameless - surges and everything go still and quiet.

Oh God.

“Yes. Let’s get that done right now,” Phil says.

The men start making plans, but I can’t hear anything over the loud whooshing of blood in my ears.

I feel light headed and reach for the chair to steady myself.

Half of me is praying that they’re wrong. That Dina didn’t do what they suspect.

But the other half, is praying like hell that she did.

Between You and Me

CARTER

The doorbell rings and my grimace, my bear soaked shirt halfway over my head. I pull it all the way off and peer at the clock. It’s almost 2am. Who the hell is coming to my house at this time.

I texted Jack hours ago before I turned my phone off so he wouldn’t worry, but I should have known he would.

I walk over to the intercom and buzz him up, unlock the door and leave it open a crack and then sit down to wait for him.

But when the door opens it’s not him who walks in, it’s Beth.

I surge to my feet, regret is a sharp knife in my gut. After the way I left things at my mother’s I’m shocked to see her.

Her nose is red from the cold, and her lips are slightly chapped. Her dark hair, flows freely to her shoulders and is flecked with snowflakes. She looks beautiful.

She yanks the cap of her head and pulls her gloves off and shivers. “It’s so cold here. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this weather. No matter how many layer I wear, I can’t seem to get warm enough,” she says through chattering teeth.

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