Page 25 of Please Save Me

“Of course, I didn’t realize that was a touchy subject.” Mason apologized.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I turned to face her once again. I cocked my hip against the counter as I tried to get comfortable. The faux granite was cold against my bare skin.

“So, what did you need to talk about?” I was hoping she would share details of a fight she and Cameron had and that I could use that to deepen the wedge I was driving between them.

Mason didn’t look away from me, but she chewed her lip as she thought, “You promise you won’t think I’m crazy?”

This was going to be good.

“Never in a million years.”

Mason’s gaze bounced to the door for just a moment before she focused back on me. “You know how you wouldn’t show me the photo of Calvin Waters?”

“...Uh, yeah?” Because there was no reason for Mason to know who heactuallywas.

I wanted her to hate Cameron, not fear him. If Mason knew she was living under the same roof as a serial killer, she’d be a nervous wreck.

She chewed on her lip for a beat before asking, “Is it because he’s Cameron?”

My heart smacked against my ribs, and I choked on a breath. How the absolute fuck did she figure that out?

“I-is it what?” I barely managed to get the words out.

“Is Cameron Cole, my boyfriend, Calvin Waters?”

Oh, so apparently,boyfriendwas a term Mason was just handing out now. Between that realization and the fact that Mason hit the nail on the head, I was at a total loss for words.

Her stare sent a chill down my spine. It was like she was dissecting my every movement, every microexpression. Every moment I stayed silent, I confirmed her suspicion.

“I–” My mouth was impossibly dry. Still, I forced myself to swallow. “Princess, why do you think that?”

Mason stared at me for a moment before rattling off a few reasons. Cameron was around the age Calvin should be; they had similar hobbies, and most importantly, Cameron told her he was from Kingsbury. Seriously, could that man get any more stupid?

Once she got to the last one, I forced myself to laugh.

“Mason, you do realize Kingsbury is a town in South Carolina, right?” I bluffed.

After this, I’d have to Google that to make sure it was true.

Her nose wrinkled in the cutest way possible, “It is?”

I plastered on a bright smile and nodded. “Plus, Calvin is my prime suspect. Do you think Cameron could kill someone?”

“I–well, no.” She admitted. “But, I don’t think Calvin killed anyone.”

“And that’s why I’m the detective, and you’re the musician.” I tapped her nose with my forefinger.

Her glare sent ice through my veins.

“If you’re the detective, I shouldn’t be doing a better job than you.”

Her comment was almost enough to make my jaw drop. Surely, that wasn’t what she actually meant?

“Excuse me?” I needed to give her a moment to explain herself.

“You’re a bad detective.” She stood on her tip-toes to tap my nose. Now that the action was done to me, I realized it was a little more than patronizing. “A good detective considers all possibilities. It sounds like you’ve already decided Calvin is guilty.”

“I’ve decided that because heisguilty.” Even if Dale was the mastermind, Cameron was a willing party.

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