Page 96 of Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date

Teri walked in while he rubbed his temples to try to ease the headache that had only increased in strength over the past several hours. She dropped into one of the chairs across from his desk. “Just got done with Jenna Deacon,” she said. “Claimed to not know anything about anything, then asked for a lawyer.”

Calvin sighed as he nodded. “Fine.”

Teri hummed. She was silent for a few moments before she said, “We can’t keep them here much longer, Sheriff, and we’ve already interviewed them all. They’ve cooperated. The DA was pretty clear about which cases he was willing to prosecute and which ones he wasn’t.”

He didn’t need Teri to say who “them” was referring to. Jerking his chin down, Calvin pushed himself out of his chair and braced himself. Interviewing Bobby Troy and Archie Yarrow Jr. had been easy compared to who he’d have to face next.

For the duration of the walk to the holding cells, his stomach churned. Acid burned up his throat, and his muscles twitched all over. Then he turned the corner, and he saw them. Saw her.

Ellie and Mabel had their arms around Daphne, who was holding a paper cup full of coffee between her knees. The three of them looked up when he approached. He saw the way they curled their arms protectively around Daphne, how their eyes narrowed on him. The perfect family, circling the wagons against a threat.

Once again, Calvin was on the outside. Alone. Once again, he was reminded that he’d always stand apart, because everyone who mattered let him down.

He’d actually fallen in love with her. Even now, the dark smudges under her eyes and the watery tears clinging to her bottom lashes made his ribs tighten uncomfortably. He wished he could wrap his arms around her, but she’d lied to him. It really had been fake for her all along, and he’d been the fool who’d seen things that didn’t exist.

It felt like he was seventeen again, seeing the perfect girl with her perfect family, skipping off into the sunset of her perfect future. It didn’t matter that they were looking at each other through the bars of the Fernley County Sheriff’s Department’s holding cell, because Daphne had people to stand beside her, even when she was locked up.

Calvin didn’t have anyone to stand beside him at all. He never had and likely never would. He’d learned that years ago, so why did it hurt so much to realize it all over again now?

She wanted a clean excuse to leave the island, and she’d get one. Calvin wasn’t going to stand in her way.

His keys jangled as he took them out, and he tore his gaze away from Daphne’s. The three of them stood in unison, and even that rankled because they did it together.

All he’d wanted was one person—oneperson—who might care about him the way he cared about them. One person to give a shit.

But that had been too much to ask.

He didn’t recognize his voice when he rasped, “You’re free to go.”

Daphne blinked, and Calvin hated that he still found her beautiful. Tired and rumpled and dirt streaked in that horrid dress, she was still the most stunning woman he’d ever seen. And she didn’t want him back.

“We are?” Daphne finally asked, then shot a quick glance at her grandmother.

Calvin said nothing and stepped aside as he held the cell door open. Mabel shuffled out first with Ellie for support, Daphne following behind. She paused as he locked the holding cell again, wringing her hands in front of her stomach.

“Calvin—”

“I don’t think there’s anything else to say,” he told her, hooking his keys back onto his belt. He forced himself to meet her gaze. “I’ve reviewed your statement. We’ll call you if we need any more information.”

Daphne’s throat bobbed as she swallowed. “I’m sorry—”

“I don’t care.”

It was a lie, of course. He cared a hell of a lot. But what did it matter in the end? It wasn’t like she cared in return.

“I never meant to hurt you,” she pleaded. “I just wanted to do this for my grandmother, and it all kind of spiraled out of control.”

“Was any of it real?” Calvin heard himself ask, his voice cold and distant. He held her gaze and arched a brow.

Daphne gulped. “I ... yes, Calvin. Yes, it was real.”

He couldn’t listen to more lies. Not when he wanted so badly to believe them. What did it matter what she said? If she truly cared about him, she would’ve put him first. She would’ve treated him like a decent human being and told him the truth.

He jerked his head toward the exit. “Just go, Daphne. We had a deal, and it’s over now. We should just leave it at that.”

She lingered for another moment, then ducked her head and walked past him.

Just before she turned the corner, Calvin called out her name. She turned, brows lifted, something like hope creeping into her expression.

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