Page 28 of You for Her (The Edge of Retaliation 2)
“What it was like for you?” I whisper, my voice cracking. “What about what it was like for me? I trusted you. I thought you were the one true friend I had outside of Jo. I thought that I was going to come out into this life again and find my way. Instead, I’ve been tormented and attacked, and you knew all along and didn’t tell me. You stood back and watched it happen. If you wanted to, you could have found a way.”
Ethan exhales and closes his eyes. “You’re right, I could have. I’m sorry. I need you to know I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, you are my friend, and I care a great deal about you.”
“Not enough to be on my side,” I say, feeling my eyes burning with unshed tears. “Your five minutes is up.”
“Callie …” he calls when I turn and walk toward the apartment.
I stop, but I don’t look back at him.
“I don’t want to not have you in my life,” he tells me, and my heart twists.
I look at him over my shoulder. “You should have thought of that before you did what you did. Goodbye, Ethan.”
I walk up to the front steps, and a tear rolls down my cheek.
A tear for the lies.
A tear for the betrayal.
A tear for the best friend I just lost.
“ARE YOU SURE ABOUT this?” Jo asks me, as I take a sheet of paper from the printer with the emails from Chase to Celia before she died.
“Yes,” I say, taking out three copies and standing. “It’s time.”
“Are you sure tonight is the night?”
“Yep,” I tell her. “Andrea asked me to go out with the girls, and Tanner has been trying to call, which he doesn’t do anymore. I know it’s because he’s trying to get an idea of where I’ll be and when. I also know that Tanner and Tatum are both free tonight, and Andrea has confirmed I’m coming three times, so I’m not silly, they have it planned for this evening.”
“How are we going to get back here again? Go over the plan so I’m clear.”
I nod. “We’re going to go out, all dressed up, because I have no doubt they’ll be watching us as we leave. We’re going to drive around the block, wait half an hour, text Andrea that we’re just stuck in traffic and that we’re nearly there. We’re also going to send her a selfie from the cab, big smiles, so she believes we’re on our way. Then we’re going to circle back around and see if they’re in the apartment. If they aren’t, we’re going to go inside, sit in the dark, and wait. If they are, we’re going to walk in, flick on the lights, and blow their damn minds.”
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Jo asks, looking a little concerned.
“This was your idea, honey,” I point out.
“Yes, I know, but the plan has so many holes …”
“It does, but it’s the only one we have right now. It may not work, and if it doesn’t, we’ll find another way. I want them to be shocked. I want them to see that we’ve been one step ahead of them. I want them to truly know who they’re messing with.”
Jo nods, and then exhales. “Well then, let’s get ready to go out.”
I put the emails down on the table, and then Jo and I go inside and get ready for our night out with Andrea. We dress up, do our makeup, and I text Andrea a few times telling her we’re getting ready and how excited we are. She seems pumped and overly nice, so I’m plenty certain tonight is definitely the night they have planned to come into our apartment and find whatever it is they need to justify their horrible actions.
When we’re done, I put the emails in a folder and put them somewhere I can easily access them, and then I turn to Jo and put my hands on her shoulders. “Are you ready?”
She nods, exhaling loudly. “Yep, I’m ready. Let’s kick some ass.”
I smile at her, pushing down my nerves, and we head out. I lock the door as usual, and we make sure we laugh and make quite the spectacle as we wait for our cab. If someone is watching, I want them to see that we’re happy and we’re not suspicious, and we’re heading out for a night with the girls, none the wiser.
When our cab arrives, we climb in, and the nerves hit in full force. I have to push them down, though. I can’t show any emotion. When I do what I’m about to do, I have to bring out the Callie that I’ve tried very hard to push down. The cold one, the one who has seen pain and lived through hell. The one who doesn’t take any crap from anybody. I have to bring her out. I have to be strong, and I have to be determined.
