Page 51 of Stay Away from Him

The quiet moment was interrupted by her phone, buzzing from inside her purse. She smiled as she walked to it, expecting it to be Thomas—he often texted right after he left her, sending something flirty or even a little naughty.

But it wasn’t Thomas.

Hey it’s me Kelli

I talked to my contact at the police. The one who gives me info on the case.

He wants to get in touch

Melissa scowled as she opened the phone, entered her passcode. She didn’t want to think about the case right now—not after the moment she’d just had with Thomas.

But she had struck a deal with Kelli. If she could prove it wasn’t Thomas who killed Rose, she’d leave them alone. And even though she didn’t want to be talking to Kelli Walker right then, didn’t want to be thinking about the case that made Thomas Danver notorious, she was more invested than ever in proving the man she loved was innocent.

How can I contact him?Melissa asked.

You don’t have to,she responded.

He’ll find you

Transcript of Recording

Amelia:I don’t know if we should be doing this anymore.

Thomas:What? Talking?

Amelia:I mean therapy. I was hesitant about it from the beginning, since we know each other so well. But you were in pain, and I wanted to help you. But now, after what’s happened—

Thomas:What’s happened?

Amelia:Thomas. Please don’t play dumb with me.

Thomas:I just want to hear you say it.

[pause]

Amelia:Last night. After dark. You came over here. And we—we…

Thomas:Go on.

Amelia:You know what happened. We had sex.

Thomas:You make it sound so clinical. I’d say what happened last night deserves a different term.

Amelia:How would you describe it? We made love?

Thomas:There’s a level of tenderness implied there that doesn’t quite capture what actually happened. Not that I don’t feel tenderness toward you. Just that this is the first time we’ve been together in that way for—God, it must be decades—and I don’t know about you, but I thought there was a hunger in it, a desperation even, that requires a different term.

Amelia:Fucking. That’s what you men like to say, isn’t it?

Thomas:Is that so wrong? You didn’t enjoy yourself, is that it? It wasn’t good? You’re wishing it hadn’t happened?

[pause]

Amelia:I didn’t say that.

Thomas:I’m glad. Because I definitely don’t regret it. It’s the bestthing that’s happened to me in a long time.

Amelia:Thomas…

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