Page 24 of Liar For Hire (For Hire 1)

Lachelle snapped her fingers in front of Janessa’s face. “Are you in there? I’ve been asking you about these pants for years.”

Janessa smirked. “Years, huh?”

“Felt like it.” Lachelle tucked the pants back on the rack. “Forget them. What’s got you distracted?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not sure I should tell you, but honestly everything is so out of control, Lachelle. I don’t know what to do.”

“That’s what your baby sister is for.” Lachelle hugged her, grinning. “Wait, don’t tell me yet. Let’s put this on hold and go grab some pizza.”

“Pizza?”

“Girl, I’m hungry. I slept in this morning. I didn’t get up until the very last second and was barely dressed when you picked me up.”

“How will you squeeze a baby into your party life, Lachelle? You were out late last night, weren’t you?”

“I’m getting it in now so I won’t miss it later. Never mind me. Let’s get to you. Come on.”

They soon settled at a table in one of the mall pizza shops. The place was full with voices raised all around them and kids playing and running around. Janessa didn’t figure anyone would overhear her conversation.

“I slept with Declan,” she blurted.

Lachelle snorted. “I knew you guys weren’t just friends.”

“We were—are.”

“When can we expect wedding bells? Wait until Ma—”

“No, Lachelle. Let me tell you everything. You’re not going to believe it. I don’t believe it.”

She told Lachelle the entire story about Declan, especially the part about the skank that was all in Declan’s face and calling him a prince. Not sure how her sister would take it, she left out the stuff about shape shifters.

Janessa and Lachelle were close but not exactly confidants, not for the really serious stuff. Janessa had always felt the age gap between her and Lachelle, which was six years. Regardless, it seemed that sleeping with Declan, loving him as she did, had opened a floodgate of emotion she couldn’t stem. If she didn’t speak to someone, she would come apart.

“Wow,” Lachelle breathed. “Are you sure he wasn’t a p

art of some cult group that lock up women or keep them in floor-length dresses?”

Janessa rolled her eyes. “I asked him something similar. He says it wasn’t like that, and I believe him.”

“Hmm, I guess if you hadn’t known him as long as you have, I wouldn’t believe it. Still, you never know. I mean you didn’t know about the prince thing all this time.”

“You’re not making me feel better, Lachelle.”

“I’m the voice of reason.”

“Since when?”

“Shut up.” Her sister laughed and threw a wadded napkin at her.

Janessa worried over where she should go now and whether she should rethink her whole friendship with Declan. What if whatever else he was hiding from her was too much for her to handle? Not to mention the crazy shifter thing. Could she even deal with that? Lachelle seemed to guess where her thoughts took her.

“Look, you already know enough truth as far as I’m concerned. Your best friend has turned out to be emotionally broken because of a hard past. That’s the sexiest type of man out there. They’re sensitive. Maybe you don’t know all the details, but who cares. He’s the one who’s been by your side all this time and looking out for you. You slept with him. Your hooks are sunk deep.”

“Ouch, do you have to make it sound like he’s my prey?”

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