Galilee Rising(85)

"Yes, I apologize for being so abrupt. I just didn't want--"

"I know. Keeping your distance in public. I shouldn't have done it." I pause to steal another glimpse of him. "So. How are you?"

"Some days are better than others. I alternate between melancholy and infuriated on an hourly basis. You of all people know how it is when you…lose a best friend. I just, I sincerely hope I didn't lose them both. She is coming, correct?"

"I-I really don't know. I just gave her the note, I didn't see her read it. If she doesn't, then we'll just…come up with something together."

"Yes," he says with little enthusiasm. "Suppose there'd be no other choice."

Once again, I don't hide my displeasure, nose crinkling as if he just shoved literal shit under it instead of emotional shit. "The footage is cued up." I rise and allow him to sit in my place. I take his former position, getting as close as I can without touching him. Jem glances up at me giving me an uncomfortable smile. "Do you think he was there?"

"Possibly. Him or a minion."

"Ryder sent Grace to Rebecca's with a camera in her pin. Jordan might have done the same. He gets to revel in the misery without any of the risk."

"I should have stayed longer. Done my job better. I let my emotions get the better of me."

"It was your best friend's funeral. Of course work wasn't on the forefront of your mind."

He gives me a genuine smile. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Always knowing the correct thing to say. For not blaming me. For being on my side, even though you shouldn't be."

I force a blush. "Well, Justin always said I was loyal to a fault. I'm only that way when the person's earned it though."

"I'm, uh, honored you count me in the same regard as Justin."

"You're welcome," I say, beaming at him with admiration.

Jem smiles nervously and looks back at the computer. "Um, would you mind getting me some coffee? I, um, want to finish this tonight."

"Of course." Like a dutiful love slave, I totter to the machine and start preparing his coffee. God, please let Lexie show up. I don't know how much longer I can keep up this charade tonight. I return with our coffees. "Here. Just how you like it."

"Thank you," he says with a sip.

After pulling up a chair, I sit next to him to watch the footage. Occasionally, I point to someone who could be Jordan just to make myself relevant while sneaking a coy glance at Jem. After ten minutes of this bullshit I'm getting nervous. She isn't coming. She needs to come. The wheels spin in my mind, attempting to think up ways to salvage this. Postpone so I can work on her? We've already begun. Jem meets my glimpse with a concerned one. He's thinking the same thing. She's abandoned us. She has to--

Jem's head whips toward the beach tunnel. I turn just as Lexie, dressed in jeans and a red sweater, steps into view. She stares at us, mouth vice tight. "Well. Aren't you two cozy?" she asks with a sneer.

"Lexie," Jem says breathlessly as he rises.

"You didn't mention he'd be here," she says, ignoring him. She removes the note from her pocket. "Though you didn't say a lot in the note. But I guess its good you're both here. I only have to say this once. I'm done."

"Lexie…"

"Shut up, Jem. You do not get to talk to me ever again," she says, nostrils flaring. "You are as dead to me as my husband is. He…we trusted you. With our lives. And you lied to us! You had him! You knew what he was capable of, and you let him go! This, all of this, is on you."

I take a step. "Lexie, stop."

"Oh, shut up Joanna. If you had half a brain, and weren't thinking with your pussy, you'd do what I am and run the fucking other way from him as far and fast as possible. Not concocting harebrained," she crumples the note and tosses it at us, "stupid, fucking schemes to trap a psychopath. Because no matter how much you want him to be Justin, he never will be. Given the choice between you and his brother, you will lose every time. My husband is proof of that."

"Lexie, shut up," I say through gritted teeth while signaling to the computer with my eyes.

"What? Can't handle some down home truth?" Face hard as stone she stalks toward me. Her cold eyes bore into mine. "Well, tough shit. Here it is. You will not win against him," she says, drawing out every word. "You will die. So whatever you're thinking of doing? Don't. It will not work. Run. Just run. Run for your fucking life away from this man. While you still can. Just run and do not look back. I'm not." She wipes a falling tear from her cheek with a trembling hand. My entire body has knotted itself up. "I'm sorry. Good luck." She turns on her heels and starts back the way she came.