Page 26 of Uncovering Love: The Wedding

DRINKING. BAD.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

I’ve been nursing a killer headache all day long and, while I’d rather be sleeping, I have so much work to do in the office. That, and I’m embarrassed about my outburst this morning. For doing what I promised myself I wouldn’t and dragging Tate into this mess. For not telling him sooner. For taking my frustration out on him. Guilt pricks at my heart all day, making it difficult to focus on the minute details of billing clients, returning emails, and preparing for my two-week leave of absence.

I check my phone a thousand times, waiting for a text from Tate, but I know he’s working too. I should be the one to reach out, but a text message seems too impersonal, too easy, and not a real enough apology after the fight we had this morning.

We don’t fight.

Not true. We do fight, but we make up instantly. This is the first time we’ve argued and then had to go about our lives, pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.

I hate it.

I throw myself into work, and for a few hours escape the guilt that reminds me I should have told Tate from the very beginning. His opinion that we should have confronted Drew messes with my decision to not, and for the first time I consider the real possibility that I made the wrong choice. Melissa isn’t merely some client. She’s my sister. Drew isn’t a cheating bastard. He’s the father of my nieces, the brother I never had, and part of our family. I can’t treat this investigation as I would any other because I can’t separate my feelings for the parties involved.

“Oh, shit.” Jon curses under his breath and I practically jump, I’m so lost in my thoughts. “Evie, you need to take a look at this.” His gaze stays trained on his computer screen.

“What?” I stand from my desk and stretch my arms overhead, stifling a yawn. The day has gone by in a blur of worry and busy work. I’m shocked when I glance at the time and find it’s half past four already.

He leans back in his leather office chair and I walk around the desk to quickly scan the email he has pulled up. A new prospective client. Late-twenties. Female. Looking for us to run a complete background on a man she’s been paired up with by her good friend for a blind date. Won’t be much of a blind date after Jon and I compile an investigative report on the guy.

I move to grab our schedule. “’Kay, that sounds doable. We can work her in on Thursday.” Jon halts my steps by wheeling his chair in my path. “What?”

“Look at the signature line.” He lifts his brows and blinks exaggeratedly. I turn back to the screen and peer closer. Amelia Moreau. What the—?

“That’s the woman Drew’s having an affair with!” I shout and tap at the name.

“The womanwe suspecthe’s having an affair with. Yes, I think so. The name isn’t that common.”

“This is perfect! What a better way to investigate her than to work for her!” All today’s turmoil has been worth it when the universe offers this kind of lead in exchange. I reach for my phone but Jon slides it out of reach to retrieve my full attention.

“Evie, we can’t do that. It’s not ethical. Besides, it seems too strange that this is a coincidence, given the timing.”

“No. No pulling that holier than thou shit with your code of ethics. We aren’t cops or lawyers, and this is my sister we are talking about. The one who snuck us our first beers. Don’t tell me you won’t do everything in your power to help her.”

“I get that it’s personal, but you can’t just do whatever you want with no regard to our business just because your sister suspects another woman. We’ve worked hard to build a reputation and I won’t throw that away.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest. “Not even for Melissa.”

“I don’t agree. When it comes to family, we do whatever it takes.”

“Really? Because she’s blood, you’ll put your career on the line? Mine as well?”

“God! You’re being so dramatic. I’m not saying put our careers on the line. Besides, this Amelia person won’t ever find out. And if she does we’ll play stupid like we didn’t know.”

“I don’t know ...” He massages his temple with his thumb and forefinger. I’m breaking him. He’s wavering. I need Jon on board for this. This is the perfect opportunity to get to the bottom of whatever’s going on. She’ll never know. Neither will Drew. And it’ll be so much quicker.

“Let’s ask Kate and get her vote,” I suggest.

“No!” His eyes widen.

“Why not?” I play innocent, but we both know which side she’ll take.

“You’ve been best friends more than half your life. You know exactly why. She’ll never be able to keep that kind of news to herself. She’ll probably insist on tagging along to meet Amelia.”

“What’s wrong with that? Kate’s helped us before. She’s a great judge of character.”

“We can’t trust her.” His stare is so serious I have to laugh.

“You don’t trust your girlfriend? The mother of your unborn child? What’s going on with you?”

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