His Reverie (Reverie #1)(71)
But she’s my only alibi.
“Who can we ask what? Were you with someone else last night? Now is the time to tell us.”
I clamp my lips shut and blow out a frustrated exhale through my nose. I’m screwed. Fucked. This feels too familiar. I remember when the cops showed up at my apartment long ago, Mom ushering them in quick for fear the neighbors would see. Her fear is almost comical to remember now when I think of how they escorted me out of the apartment in handcuffs for everyone to see. And everyone did see.
My poor mom. It still hurts to think of the pain I must’ve put her through.
The detectives seemed to get some sort of sick thrill when they delivered the news to me so matter of fact. I sat facing them across a giant table, the room cold and nondescript, the grim glee in their voices when they spoke to me.
You killed a man with your best friend, Nick. Now tell us the truth. Give us your side of the story. We know you did it.
They’d been wrong then. Just like they’re wrong now.
“You not going to talk?” The kind one asks as he slips into the driver’s seat, his gaze meeting mine in the rearview mirror.
Slowly I shake my head, keeping my lips shut.
“Fine. We’ll talk at the station,” the mean one states as the other starts up the car. “And let me just give you a warning. It’s not looking so good for you, Fairfield. Your ex lying dead in front of her door the same night she was supposed to meet with you. We know you two were having problems and fighting all the time. Her dad gave us all the dirty details. Said you two were together.”
I just bet he did. Made up a few lies too I’m sure. I swallow hard and turn my head to the side, watching as the car backs up close to the garage before the cop puts the car into drive and starts down the driveway.
Once again I’m going to pay for someone else’s sins. And if it comes down to it, I will pay only to protect her. I’m not letting Reverie get involved in this. Someone killed Krista and it sure as hell wasn’t me. Reverie could be in danger. Whatever happened, I need to put myself as far away from Reverie as possible. I’m doing this because I love her, not that she’d understand.
I’m toxic. Bad luck. No good. Just like I told her, time and again.
Getting arrested may be the only way I’ll be able to stay away from her. She’ll leave town soon with her family and go back to her normal life. She’ll escape this mess untouched. I don’t want her involved. I’ll find another alibi. The cops have zero evidence. They can’t prove I did it because I didn’t.
And then I’ll go on with my life. Without her.
No matter how much it hurts.
No matter how badly I’ll miss her.
My everything.
My Reverie.