Sweet Liar (Candy #2)(73)

“He hasn’t accepted shit.” She scowled at the thought. “And I definitely haven’t.”

I got the files and hid them in a bag of leftovers Lorraine insisted they take with them. Heather took the bag and winked at me.

My stomach twisted as I watched her walk out the door with all the evidence anyone needed to convict my father, but Jonah trusted her completely, and I trusted him.

“You okay?” Jonah asked.

As we watched them drive away, I told him that Heather had taken the files and why she wanted them.

He shook his head. “Imagine if someone found a cure for cancer and kept it secret, and only gave it to people who could give something back in return.”

I thought of how many people had the disease, including two I loved so dearly.

“That person could rule the world,” I said.

“Or destroy it,” he muttered.

***





It had been two days since Heather left. Theo had been here each day since to hang out with us and give us updates from Heather because we weren’t using our phones, but our time for having Theo as a go-between was coming to an end. He was leaving for California with his family tomorrow, and Heather was going along.

“So, what do your folks think of Heather?” I asked Theo.

He grinned. “They didn’t think I had it in me. Honestly, neither did I.”

“So that means you two are . . . ?”

“We’re a couple, Candy,” he said, his grin widening at his own words.

“Wow. That’s great.” I knew he had it in him, and I gave him an encouraging smile, glad his parents were accepting her sudden appearance in his life. I accepted it too, and if she was able to use those files to help him, I would be forever grateful to her.

Smiling, Theo turned to Jonah. “Your father nearly got himself arrested by Glenn Valley’s finest.”

Jonah and I both became alert. “What are you talking about?” Jonah asked.

Theo chuckled. “It seems someone put an ad in the paper saying he was recycling used Christmas trees, and anyone who wanted to get rid of theirs should just come and dump it on his front lawn. You’ve got a shit ton of trees in your yard, dude.”

I snorted out a laugh and then covered my mouth with my hand.

“Your dad decked the last guy who tried to leave one.”

Jonah and Theo both looked at me.

“Still at it, huh?” Theo shook his head at me, but Jonah narrowed his eyes.

I shrugged. “I actually forgot about that. I did it a while ago.”

Jonah’s lips turned down. “You’re antagonizing him? Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

“Probably not,” I replied, recalling how I felt the day I’d placed the ad. Alone. Losing hope.

“Definitely not,” he shot back.

“It’s not like he’ll ever know it was me.” I looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

“You’ll never learn, Candy,” Jonah snapped. Then he stood and left the room.

“Sorry.” Theo cringed. “Didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”

I shrugged, despite the sinking feeling in my stomach. “Maybe I never will learn.”

“Maybe some of us won’t mind.” Theo grinned and gave me a hug before he left.

It was late when Lorraine made us all dinner, and although Jonah chatted and acted as if nothing was wrong, there was a chill in his tone each time he spoke to me. When dinner ended, we all cleaned up and then went to our separate rooms.

Under Lorraine’s watchful eye, Jonah and I had been sleeping in separate rooms, but tonight I felt compelled to go to him. I walked into the office and found him fast asleep, lying on his side on the air mattress. When I slipped under the blanket and pressed the front of my body to the back of his, he stiffened in surprise. But then he relaxed again, and when I draped my arm over his waist, he took my hand in his and held it to his chest, where I could feel his heart beating.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“I know.” Jonah squeezed my hand, telling me we were okay, and that was all I needed to know. After a time, when it was clear neither of us were asleep, he turned and faced me. Cradling my head against his chest, he pulled me in close. It was a silent gesture, but one that was full of meaning. We needed each other, but even more than that, we wanted each other.

When his hand moved to my hip and he dipped down to kiss me, I met each of his caresses with one of my own. In the darkness, every touch of our lips tasted like an apology, each brush of bare skin a promise. Jonah and I were in this together, and nothing could change that.





On my fifth morning at Lorraine’s house, I woke up and reluctantly rolled away from Jonah, rubbing my eyes. A knock sounded at the front door, and Jonah gave me a worried look. It was just after six in the morning.

“Stay here,” he said.

Lorraine came out of her bedroom, watching as Jonah moved past her. A few tense moments later, I heard Theo’s voice coming from the living room. Following Lorraine down the hall, we saw Jonah talking on Theo’s phone as Theo stood there in sweats and a coat with his hair sticking up in all directions, looking like he’d just rolled out of bed.

Jonah glanced at us as he spoke. “Are you still leaving today? Who do they believe?” he asked after listening for several moments. Whatever he heard had him sighing with relief. When he ended the call, he looked at me.