Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Yeah, but I don’t care what happens to me,” she retorts. “I very much care about what happens to you.”
A soft smile plays at his mouth. “I love you too.” His gaze then shifts to me. “But I know Tempe cares about me too and she wouldn’t suggest doing this if she truly thought it would put me in peril with Brienne.”
I hasten to make sure he understands that I don’t know if this is a good idea. Just an idea. “I could be wrong. This could piss her off.”
“But what do I have to lose?” he repeats my prior words. “And besides… the truth will come out. Whether we can prove it was Tansy behind this is an unknown, but I know my drug test will come back negative and I’m assuming we can show those reports and photos are all fake.”
“Yes!” I exclaim. “That’s the spirit.” Then I immediately feel wary because Farren is so against this, so I turn her way. “I think you need to be okay with this too. Your opinion matters.”
“It does,” Rafferty agrees, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “So what say you, sis? If I go to Brienne Norcross, and ultimately get fired, will you support me financially?”
There’s a moment of heavy silence and then Farren starts laughing, a wry expression on her face. “I can’t afford to support you, but I suppose we could move back in with our parents.”
Determination shines through his eyes, in the hard set to his jaw. “Then let’s do this.”
Pulling out his phone, he puts it on speaker and we all gather around as he calls Callum Derringer, who answers on the second ring. “Rafferty… what can I do for you?”
Eyes pinned to mine, Rafferty says, “I need to meet with Brienne, as soon as possible. It’s urgent.”
There’s a pause on the line. “How urgent?”
“I have some important information about these faked drug allegations and I have to talk to her in person.”
Callum sounds skeptical. “I’m not sure I can get her on a Sunday. Are you sure you just can’t tell me?”
“I think you should be there as well, but Brienne has to hear it. It sort of has to do with her.”
We can’t see Callum on the other end of the line, but I can almost feel his shock by the heavy silence. It’s evident he’s now taking this seriously when he says, “Hold on. Don’t hang up. I’ll be right back.”
“Oh shit,” Farren mutters. “This is moving fast.”
“Do or die,” Rafferty says, stroking his jaw in contemplation. I reach out and put my hand on his hip, just a touch for him to know I’m here.
We wait in silence, staring at the phone in Rafferty’s hand. It seems like an hour but can’t be more than a few minutes, and Callum is back on the line. “Brienne will meet you at her office at the arena. She’s heading there now,” Callum says, a note of surprise in his tone. “I’m on my way too.”
“Oh wow,” Rafferty breathes out, and I can hear his relief. It’s a scary prospect, but I know he’s glad that everyone is taking this seriously. “I’m on my way too.”
The call disconnects and Rafferty heads to his front door, nabbing his keys off the small table there. I follow him, grabbing my purse from the floor where I’d dropped it when I entered. He looks at me in surprise.
“I’m coming with you,” I advise.
He looks unsure, worry on his face. “I don’t know, Tempe. It’s business—”
“I’m a witness, Rafferty. I know the entire story and I can attest to the crazy-ass shit she’s done. You need me to corroborate.”
“She’s right,” Farren says, standing a few feet from us with her arms across her chest. “Having Tempe there will bolster your story.”
Rafferty nods. “Yeah… you’re right.” He then turns to me, grabbing me by the waist and jerking me closer. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have by my side in what might be one of the scariest things I’ve faced.”
“I’ll always be by your side,” I assure him, reaching to touch his cheek. The words of long-term commitment feel so right and good. “I’ve got you.”
“And I love you,” he says. There’s no describing the punch of euphoria that sweeps through me.
“You love me?”
“I do,” he says earnestly. “Seems like it’s a day for truths, so I might as well lay that out there.”
I hear Farren sigh, a dreamy sound, and I know exactly what she means. I don’t have time to revel in the unfettered way my heart bounces around like a puppy. It’s time for my own truth. “I love you. Not sure when it happened, but I’ve been feeling it for a while. And if it took all this craziness coming to light for us to put our feelings out there, then I’m glad for it.”