Page 248 of Come Back to Me

“You’re weird,” Amy rasps.

“Think that’s the first time I’ve ever been called that?” I pshaw. “I thought you had to be clever to get into that fancy school.”

“Obviously, I’m a dumb MC brat because I didn’t get to graduate.” Amy bites her lip. “Callan…”

“My younger brother.”

“She knows that already, Cody.” I tsk. “How many times do I have to tell you? Everyone knows you and your brothers.”

Cody heaves a sigh. “What about Callan?”

“H-He used to… I competed against him in some school tournaments. H-How is he since he graduated?”

My gaze drops to her fingers, which are pleating her blanket. “Callan’s working for his family ranch.” Her brow puckers, but when she doesn’t reply, I prompt, “What is it?”

“Is he studying long distance?”

Cody and I share a look, but he answers, “He’s mostly just handling accounts.”

“Oh.” Some more pleating goes down. “And, erm, he has a dog?”

“Hellhound,” I correct, ignoring Cody’s scoff.

Amy ducks her head. “I bet he’s really sweet to animals.”

Clearly, she has it bad.

A smile dances on my lips. “He’s sweet all round. Better than maple syrup.” That has Cody grunting, but I shoot him a wink. “Nanaimo bars, that’s you.”

Because he’s aware of my ongoing addiction issues with Canada’s premium baked good, he smirks and settles in the other chair.

(Ah, men. Such simple creatures.)

Amy coughs. “So, um, yeah, it’s just been a long time since we talked. I thought it was strange that he was the rich one and I was the poor one, but he attended public school and I was at a private boarding school.”

“Our sperm donor insisted that what was good enough for him was good enough for us.”

“Huh. That’s a kinda shitty mentality, but I get it. Dads aren’t always the smartest. At least mine let me try to…” Her bottom lip pops out. “Of course, he’s the reason everything got so fucked up.”

I nudge Cody’s arm with my elbow, but he doesn’t take the hint as he agrees, “Fathers are good at that.”

(Okay, my nose is officiallyin.)

“Razer’s actually not…” I nudge him again. “Cody, want to take over?”

He purses his lips, and I realize he was going to hold the info back from her, but I don’t think that’s wise. Her father might have been a piece of shit, but he was still her dad. I’m pretty sure he’d want to know if Clyde had died—even if it was only to celebrate.

“What is it? What’s going on?” Amy asks warily.

“I’m so sorry, Amy, but Razer’s actually been found… dead.”

She releases a gasp. “What?!”

Cody leans forward. “During our interview, he pinned the blame on Kit for everything—and I meaneverything.” His look is a warning before he prompts, “In your statement, you need to corroborate the fact that Kit was the?—”

“—dastardly evildoer,” I insert when Cody struggles to finish the sentence without incriminating himself in that little ol’ perverting the course of justice thang.

Grateful, he tips his chin at me. I know that gratitude stems from the fact that I’m totally on board with this plan.

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