“I need some time,” she said, getting up, her voice filling with panic as she took a step toward the door. “Coming here early wasn’t a good idea after all. I need to think things through before I speak to him. I—I’d like to come back tomorrow morning instead. Around nine? I’ll give you my number in case that doesn’t work for...Ash.”

Was that strike three? Was she hoping it wouldn’t work for him, and this was her way out? Would she even come tomorrow? The seeds of doubt had been planted and were already taking root, getting ready to bloom. I could see it in her demeanor, the way she looked like she couldn’t wait to turn and bolt out the door. With any luck she’d drive straight to Maryland without looking back, leaving Ash here, where he belonged. With me.

After Lily scribbled down her details, she left without saying a proper goodbye. I closed the door and rested my back against it, let the relief of my actions seep in. When I caught a glance of myself in the hallway mirror, I smiled. Ever since I was a kid, I’d known what people saw when they looked at me: long, lanky legs, skeletal frame, black fluffy hair and enormous eyes. Waifish and elfin were two words often used to describe me. I’d loathed and detested them for their synonymy with weak. Except I knew now they’d always been to my advantage. They were why people underestimated me.

21

LILY

Not long after I’d left Ash and Maya’s place—was that how I’d have to refer to it as of now, their place?—my mood flipped from despondent to enraged. I was relieved Maya had agreed to my returning in the morning because if I saw Ash now, there was no telling what I might say or do to him. He’d been considered a suspect in Kate’s death? How could he have kept something like that from me? No, I’d never told him about my sordid past, but I’d been convicted, he hadn’t. I’d had more to hide...hadn’t I?

My feelings shifted again, my heart pounding as I pulled over, rested my head on the steering wheel and shut my eyes, willing myself to wake up from this incessant freak show and go back to my normal life where Ash was Jack and we were happy, and I was blissfully ignorant.

I didn’t move until a short pap-pap of a horn sounded in my ears. A red Subaru WRX had pulled up next to me, and the huge red-haired guy I’d seen at the Cliff’s Head earlier, now sporting a pair of shiny aviator sunglasses, had rolled down his window, and gestured for me to do the same. “Are you okay?” he said when I’d complied.