Page 100 of Once Upon a Lie

I shake my head and swallow hard, frustrated by the light my fucking cover story is painting me in for the first time since they ran the damn thing. It was supposed to make me sound less like a squeaky-clean cop to a woman involved in gunrunning and money laundering with her father. Trouble is, she’s not that woman at all.

She’s a righteous, fairy-dancing, bagel-making ray of fucking sunshine, and finding out I’d been fired from the police force weeks ago, even without the details, was disappointing enough. I’ve been doing my best to avoid the whole topic of my firing like my life depends on it, but now it’s a bloody carcass right in the middle of the metaphorical kitchen table.

I’m such a fucking idiot.

“It’s a long story. I didn’t do the shit that says, but it’s an ongoing thing, so I can’t really talk about it,” I evade further.

James elbows Crew. “See, I told you there’s some shit we’re not understanding. Shane Maddox isn’t about that bullshit. He’s no criminal.”

I lick my lips and sigh.

“What about Dom, though?” Crew asks, less convinced.

“We’re working things out,” I say imploringly. “I . . . well, I just went and saw him in the hospital when Hannah had the baby.”

Crew nods, relieved. “Well, thank fuck. A rift between you and the Karaoke Cowboy? I don’t know what we’d do.”

Instantly, Teeny’s eyes jump to mine with accusation, and it’s all I can do not to crumble right then. Of all the fucked-up things he could’ve said in this context, it’s the innocent one that lands like a gunshot.

“Well, guys, we’ll see you later. Glad I bumped into you.”

“Yeah, Shane. Good seeing you, man. Take care and stay in touch, okay?”

I nod, following Teeny, who’s already walking away, her soda discarded on the bar. I down a swig of beer—I have a feeling I’m going to need it—and follow her outside.

Someone dressed like a zombie bumps my shoulder, but I don’t even feel it.

I have no idea how I’m going to explain my way out of this.

It sure would be easier if I had the authority to tell the truth.

36

Valentina

11:00 p.m.

“So, I knew you lost your job as a police officer. And I know you told me you were fired,” I finally find the courage and the calm to say on the elevator ride to my floor in Magnolia after stewing on what happened at the bar the entire fifteen-minute walk home while Shane followed ten feet behind me like a kicked puppy.

I expected him to catch up to me and pull me to a stop so he could explain or kiss me senseless until I couldn’t breathe or weave some bullshit to win me over like you’d see in the movies, but he didn’t, and if I’m honest, that’s messing with my mind just as much as the interaction with his friends at the bar.

I just don’t get how it can feel so much like he wants me around but is holding me off at the same time.

“Yeah.”

“But . . .” I swallow. “I just . . . I thought it was something boring. Politics. Paperwork. Too many late write-ups or something.”

There’s a deep pause and a sigh from his spot behind me. “It’s a really long story with a lot of moving parts and a lot of things that aren’t true. I’m . . . figuring out how to deal with it all still. And I haven’t told you more because . . . I’m embarrassed at how it makes me sound. It paints me as something I’m not.”

“Okay. I guess I understand that. I have plenty of history people wouldn’t understand if they weren’t an intricate part of it. But I know you said you’re in between jobs, and you’re, like, doing handyman stuff, but what’s the endgame? Do you think there’s a chance you’ll be cleared and get your job back? You’re done with the force completely? Help me out here, because I’m trying to understand,” I ramble, and I have no idea why I can’t seem to stop talking.

Am I nervous? Scared? Trying to make him feel better? Trying to make me feel better?

I don’t know.

“I had a friend in college who went through all the stuff she needed to become a physical therapist. The extra school, the tests, the certification, and then decided she wanted to be a fitness instructor instead. She’s really good, I think, as much as I’ve kept up with her. I think she has a workout DVD or stream or whatever, but I’m just trying to say . . . it’s okay to change your mind.”

“I didn’t change my mind. They changed my mind for me. So, yeah, I guess to answer your question, the goal is to be a cop again one day.”