Page 132 of The Exit Strategy

Not because she was convinced.

Not because it was strategic.

But because I asked.

I don’t know how to handle that—but I’m willing to learn.

“Go to Charleston,” I say.

The fork she’s been playing with stops against her plate as she slow-blinks. “What?”

“Go tomorrow. Have Katie go with you if you want backup. Find whatever it is you need and bring it back. We’ll file on Thursday.”

She flops back in her chair, reminding me of Nolanwhen the Red Sox lose, but she’s doing it while wearing a dress that will tease my dreams for an eternity.

“You’re…sure?”

Am I sure that everything’s about to change?

Yes.

Am I sure that I want her rooting around in Devin’s shit?

Debatable.

Will I hold her back from solving my mess when sorting through financial ruins is one of her greatest joys?

No.

“I’m sure. I’ve read every report you’ve given me, Junie. This morning, I saw how you methodically followed money trails I couldn’t decode. Even if we can’t find Devin, you’ve proven that the lines leading to me were faked.”

How honest can I be? How vulnerable?

“I tried,” I say. “I knew I didn’t do this, but I couldn’t fix it.” Admitting that is a kick to the nuts I wasn’t expecting. “I—I was terrified that no one would believe me. But you did. You saved my career, Juniper. My reputation. You’re so fucking good at what you do. You saved me.”

And what she doesn’t know is she may have saved herself a whole lot of pain in the process.

Her smile, the real one, the one that’s unhindered by expectations and social niceties, spreads across her face like sunshine after a long, dark winter.

She’s beautiful.

And mine.

She has to be.

“Okay.” She’s still grinning as she takes another bite. “We’re going to nail him for this.”

I smile at her. One disaster nearly averted, a hundred more to go.

“Then,” she says, “we can tackle restitution and get themoney back in the coffer for The Haven or figure out next steps.”

I tilt my head as I stare at her. “You care about the people here.”

She shrugs and breaks eye contact. “I just don’t like when innocent people pay the price for bad actors. Plus, Nana Mae’s a little terrifying. I don’t want to be on her bad side.”

“Nana Mae reserves her bad side for people who deserve it. That will never be you, Junie.”

She nods but sets down her fork.