Page 234 of Time Stops With You

“Since Jenna what?” Cullen asks, folding his arms over his chest and giving Sara a stern look.

His assistant shakes her head. “It’s not what you think. She didn’t do anything to Nardi.”

Cullen visibly relaxes.

“Jenna got drunk and came over to Cullen Tech, crying and begging for you to forgive her,” I say. Now that I think about it, Cullen and I have been so distracted that I haven’t been able to ask him about that. “I heard everything. Are you really not going to sue her?”

He frowns grimly. “I considered it. I’d long suspected that there was something shady about our data being leaked, but I had no way to prove it.” He sighs. “But Jenna was the one who rushed me to the hospital the day I collapsed and she also confessed to her crimes and agreed to testify in the lawsuit. Suing her won’t fix anything now. The damage is done.”

Sara shakes her head and rolls her eyes, clearly disagreeing with that conclusion.

“Sara, can I speak to you for a moment?” Cullen asks.

She and Cullen walk over to his computer room to discuss something privately and I try not to be jealous at the way they shut me out.

I understand Sara’s role in his life. She’s his right hand, and I get why it’s easy for him to confide in her, so I talk myself out of overthinking it and continue to prepare for the other guests.

Asad and Dr. Young arrive around the same time. I’m glad to see them. Asad, especially, makes me laugh as he marvels at how big Cullen’s house is.

Sara and Cullen emerge from the computer room when they hear Asad’s boisterous laughter. I’m smiling but, at the sight of Sara’s ashen face and Cullen’s somber expression, my intuition tugs at me.

Something’s not right.

That feeling only grows stronger as our other guests arrive. Darrel and Sunny make a jaw-dropping entrance. They’re both tall and extremely attractive people. Sunny’s holding a giant gift bag and offers it to Cullen who thanks her in a quiet, restrained voice.

Not long after Sunny presents the gift, Cullen and Darrel disappear.

Something is definitely,definitelyup.

“Great party,” Sunny says, smiling at me.

I turn to the bartender and lift a hand. He slides a drink over to me and I knock it back in one go.

“Why are we having a birthday party and the birthday boy is nowhere to be found?” I mumble, tapping the counter for another drink.

Sunny’s eyes dart to me and then slide around the room. “You’re right. He and Darrel have been talking for a while.” She peers at me. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything is great.” I drain the cup as the foreboding sensation gets stronger.

Sunny’s eyes fasten on the wedding ring hanging from my neck. “Ooh! That’s pretty.”

“This?” I run my fingers over the ring. “Cullen got it for me.”

Sunny looks surprised. “Why aren’t you wearing it on your finger?”

Unease flashes through my chest. “Because…”

She places a hand on my shoulder and it’s only then that I realize I must look as conflicted as I feel.

“It’s okay,” Sunny says.

Sadness swelling in my chest, I admit, “If I put the ring on, I’ll eventually have to take it off and when I do, it’ll break me. So I’d rather not.”

“Nardi, if you ever need anything?—”

“I know.” I give her a grateful smile. “And I will.”

Just then, the doorbell rings andtheRichard Sullivan walks in. He’s wearing a three-piece suit and carries an air of importance that money just can’t buy.

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