Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
"I'm in trouble," I confess. "Big trouble."
"Being in love isn't trouble."
"That's not what I mean," I say with a sigh and sit upright. "I'm going to be charged with manslaughter, Erin."
"What?"
I have to hold my phone away from my ear again when she shrieks at me. Crossing my legs, I wait for her to calm down before explaining.
"They think I was in a relationship with that kid who went missing. Someone has been posing as me online for months."
"What?" she shouts.
"It's so sad."
"The kid is dead?" Erin asks.
"Yes. He jumped off Bay Bridge."
"Oh my god," she whispers.
"It's so awful. Whoever has been posing as me told him to kill himself, and he did. Now I'm going to be charged with his death unless I can prove that I didn't tell him to kill himself." I take a breath, trying to keep myself under control. "I don't want to drag Cam down with me. He's been so good to me. He's helping me try to clear my name."
"I can't believe he's dead," she says.
"I know. I feel so awful for his family, and for him. I keep thinking that the last thing he heard from anyone was this woman telling him to kill himself. Is it selfish that I hate knowing he died thinking I'm a horrible person?" I think maybe that is selfish, but I can't help but feel that way.
"You aren't a horrible person. They can't send you to jail for this. You didn't do it."
"I know that, but they don't." I sigh again, thinking about the song and the fact that this woman is using my identity. "I'm going to be arrested. It's only a matter of time."
"I'm coming home," she decides, her voice firm.
"You can't," I remind her. "Your conference isn't over."
"Screw the conference!"
"Your boss needs you there," I say, and then bite my lip because I really do want her to come home, even knowing she can't. There's nothing she could do for me here, but I miss her and the laughter she brings into my life. "Besides, Cam is trying to find evidence that proves I'm innocent. We just have to give him time to do it."
She grumbles wordlessly.
"He will find something," I tell her, trying to muster a little confidence.
"Do you really think so?" she asks, her voice full of worry.
"I hope so. This woman used Rory's name at a shop a couple of weeks ago, so he's going to try to get the security footage from the area to see if I recognize anyone. With any luck, we'll find out who is behind this." I'm not so sure it'll happen before I'm arrested, but I don't tell her that, instead filing it away under things not to mention over the phone.
She's quiet for a moment and then she sighs. "Fine. I'll stay here until the conference is over on Tuesday. But I swear to God, if you're arrested before I get home, I'm kicking his ass. And you can tell him I said so."
She's serious. I know she is.
"I will," I promise, smiling a little.
"I can't believe you're having a secret love affair with a cop while being investigated," she says with a dramatic sigh. "That's kind of hot, Ivy."
"It sounds a lot hotter than it is, trust me."
"Says the woman having incredible sex with a sexy detective."
"The sex is incredible," I murmur. Even though she can't see me, my cheeks burn.
"Lucky bitch," she grumbles. "Seriously though, if he's fine with your relationship, you should be, too. You didn't do this, and you don't owe anyone an explanation about your life or who you're seeing."
"It's more complicated than that."
"Is he assigned to the case?"
"No. He's looking into it as a favor for a friend…and I guess for me, now."
"Then fuck that noise!" she shouts. "Unless he's the detective assigned to the case, you're not doing anything wrong. Screw anyone who says otherwise."
"You're right."
"I'm always right," she says with a breezy laugh. "You better call me immediately if anything happens."
"I will," I promise.
"Love you, bestie."
"Love you, too." I wait for the line to disconnect and then drop my phone on the table. Flopping back down on the bed, I stare up at the ceiling and sigh, wishing like hell being with Cam was as easy as Erin makes it sound because she is right, our relationship isn't anyone else's business…I just don't think the rest of the world would agree.
The bed dips and then Cam's scent hits me.
"Kitten," he murmurs, running his hands through my hair.
"Mm," I mumble and roll toward him. At some point, I must have dozed off. I'm warm and comfortable and I don't want to wake up. Instead, I snuggle up with my head against his thigh, my eyes still closed.
"You awake, baby girl?" he asks. He shifts beneath me, and then I'm in his arms, my head on his shoulder as he settles back down on the bed again, holding me.