Page 55 of Second Goal

I force a smile and try to be happy for her, but I’ll miss not seeing her every day.

“Don’t worry,” she says as we approach the apartment and the doorman opens the door for us. “I’ll make sure you have your own room to come and visit whenever you want.”

“I love you,” I tell her, emotions building in my chest. It’s the first time I’ve said those words to her.

Her eyes brighten and she loops her arm with mine. “I love you, too, Kiley.”

I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear those words until she said them back. And I squeeze her a little too hard before getting off on my floor.

“Dinner’s at six,” she says, and I nod before the elevator doors close on her.

Pax tugs on the leash until we get inside Blake’s apartment, those big brown eyes begging me to feed him. I chuckle when he sits by the pantry where his food is and starts to whimper.

“It’s not time yet,” I tell him.

As if sensing the possibility of me caving, Lady comes out of her hiding spot, and lies on the floor next to Pax, joining in the begging. I pull out a box of treats and give them each one, even though I’ve already given them both a biscuit today.

“It’s our secret, okay?” I tell Pax when I hand him a second.

“What secret?”

I jump a little, and when I turn, I see Blake standing in the entranceway, frowning. Pax rushes to him, and Blake gives him a quick pet before directing his attention back on me. I can’t interpret his mood, but I see something in his eyes that has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end - suspicion.

“What’s wrong?”

“Where were you?” He nods at my jacket.

“I took Pax for a quick walk—”

“You weren’t supposed to leave the apartment.”

“Brynne was with me,” I say, a knot forming in my throat. “Why the inquisition?”

“You really have to ask that?” His eyes narrow.

Frustration builds inside me, mixed with the first bubbling of anger. “I get that you don’t trust me. But if you didn’t want me to leave the apartment, then you should have had someone come over to take Pax out.”

“I did.”

“Well, they didn’t show up,” I spit out, causing Lady to whimper and retreat to the living room. “I don’t know why you’re attacking me, but I have better things to do—”

“Like what, Kiley?” Again, that suspicion is clear in his eyes. “What do you have to do?”

“What are you accusing me of?”

“Explain this.” He pulls out his phone and scrolls through his emails, then twists it around so I can see the messages.

“Explain what?” I cross my arms over my chest, not bothering to read the small print on the screen.

“Read it,” he demands, handing me the phone.

I sigh heavily before taking it. I start to scroll through the files, not sure what I’m reading, until I see my name. Every sentence I read, my body gets heavier, and ice fills my veins.

“What... what is this?”

“That’s what I want to know.”

I blink up at him, realizing that he’s not asking for an explanation, he’s accusing me of the hideous things on the files. “You think...” I swallow. “You think this is me?”

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