“You’re blushing.”

“No, I’m not.”

“And now, you’re lying.”

“It’s the coffee.”

Val stared deep into my eyes. “You haven’t even taken a sip. Something I said embarrassed you. Maddox…tail…”

I shifted under her intense stare.

“You live in Midtown.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. I wasn’t denying my residence but what I knew she would soon discover. Damn having friends who are federal investigators for a living.

“Maddox is your neighbor, isn’t he?”

I shook my head faster, looking around. “Val, no…stop…”

“Fuckity. You’re joking. Maddox is your one-night stand!” she hissed, thankfully keeping her voice to a whisper.

I covered my face and then let my forehead fall to my desk. I could hear her leaning over the cubicle.

“Oh my God, Liis. Did you just die when you saw him? How could you not know? How did he not know? He hired you, for Christ’s sake!”

“I don’t know,” I said, rocking my head from side to side, my fingers digging into the edge of my desk. I sat up, pulling down the thin skin beneath my eyelids as I did so. “I’m fucked, aren’t I?”

“At least once that I know of.” Val stood, her badge wagging as she did so. She smirked at me, sliding her slender long fingers into her pockets.

I looked up at her, desperate. “Just kill me now. Put me out of my misery. You have a gun. You can do it.”

“Why would I do that? This is the best thing to happen to this squad in years. Maddox got laid.”

“You’re not going to tell anyone, right? Promise me.”

Val grimaced. “We’re friends. I wouldn’t do that.”

“That’s right. We’re friends.”

She craned her neck toward me. “Why are you talking to me like I’m a mental patient?”

I blinked and shook my head. “I’m sorry. I’m quite possibly having the worst day of my life.”

“Well, you look hot.” She walked away.

“Thanks,” I said to myself as I scanned the room.

No one had heard our discussion, but it still felt like the secret was out. I sank back into my chair and slipped on my headphones as Val left the squad room for the security doors leading into the hallway.

I covered my mouth for a moment and sighed, feeling lost. How had I messed up my fresh start so thoroughly and before it even started?