Chapter 105

“And if I refuse?” I asks.

Amber’s smile falls and she glowers at me instead. “I don’t want to ruin Miles’s career, but I will. You don’t want that though, do you? So you are going to call him.”

“What are you planning?” I ask her. “I’m not going to call him down here for you to hurt him.”

“I’m not going to hurt him,” Amber scoffs. “He’s my oldest friend. I just need him to talk to me. He refuses, since you’ve shown up.”

Looking around, I don’t see any weapons, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hidden somewhere.

If I can stall for an hour, Cynthia will send the police. Then Miles will be safe. But our secret will be exposed.

Ugh, I don’t know what to do.

“Call him,” Amber says. “At least give him the choice before you ruin his career with your overthinking.”

She’s out of her mind, but she is right about that. The choice should be Miles’s. If I tell him enough, maybe he’ll show up with police.

I open my phone and call his number. He doesn’t answer right away and my stomach twists. If he doesn’t answer, where does that leave Amber? Will she accept that? Or will she release the photos anyway?

I close my eyes, trying to calm my worry, when Miles finally answers on the last possible ring before voicemail.

“Esther. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon,” Miles says, a smile on his voice. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“I need you to meet me at an old bookstore downtown,” I say, cutting straight to the point.

The abrupt change in our usual dynamic makes him immediately sober his own tone.

“What’s happening?” he asks.

“Amber found out. She says she has pictures.”

“Don’t say my name,” Amber shushes me, but she’s far too late.

Miles goes quiet on the other end of the phone. “Send me the address.”

“Miles,” I want to tell him this is a bad idea, that he should stay away or call the police or something. Not just foolishly drive here.

“It will be fine, Esther. Just tell me where you are.”

He hangs up and I text him the address.

“What have you done, you bitch,” Amber snaps. “You were supposed to get him here. He’ll never come if he knows I’m here.”

“He says he will,” I say. “He asked for the address.”

This placates Amber somewhat. She steps back. Lifting her hands, she worries them together.

“He’s coming here. I have to figure out what to say.”

She’s delusional if she thinks anything she can say will change Miles’s opinion on her. In fact, this entire subterfuge is likely to only widen the rift between them.

But she wouldn’t listen to me, even if I tried to explain. To her, I am an enemy. I’m the reason she and Miles are no longer friends.

She can’t accept her own responsibility. She’d rather force Miles’s hand than apologize.

For the next twenty long minutes, Amber paces while I stand awkwardly, nervous and annoyed at once.

Then, blessedly, the door chimes.

“Esther?” Miles calls.

“Here,” I reply.

Heavy footfalls come closer. When he sees me, he looks me over as if checking that I’m unharmed. Then he sighs.

“You scared the shit out of me,” he says.

“Sorry,” I tell him.

“Miles,” Amber says, stepping closer to us.

Miles totally ignores her. He takes my arm. “Let’s get out of here.”

“But,” I start to say, glancing back at Amber.

“We’ll talk later,” he says and tugs me toward the door.

Amber’s face crumples with heartbreak. She follows along in our shadow. “Miles, listen to me!”

He doesn’t reply at all. Out on the street, he ushers me into his car, then rushes around to the driver’s seat.

“I can ruin you!” Amber shouts. “Listen to me, damn it!”

He doesn’t. He shuts the door and starts to drive.

Amber chases down the street. She almost catches up to us at a red light, but when Miles turns right, the traffic clears. He accelerates and leaves her behind in the dark of night.

We sit in silence. Miles’s jaw is tight. He’s choking the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip.

“I’m sorry…” I say.

“It’s not on you,” he says. “I’m pissed as hell, but not at you, Esther. You are a victim here. I’m relieved that Amber didn’t try to hurt you.”

“She said she just wanted to talk to you.”

“I’ve already tried that with her,” Miles says. “I sat. I let her say what she wanted. I made clear my terms for any friendship between us going forward. She could not meet those terms. Now she’s trying to force the issue. She won’t budge, so she’ll threaten me by using you.”

His voice is oddly monotone. I wrap my arms around myself, feeling cold.

“I’m taking you to see my lawyer. Tonight. We’re getting that restraining order set up for you. Next time you walk into a room and see Amber, call the police.”

Mentions of police makes me remember Cynthia and her threats.

“Oh gosh,” I say and fish out my phone. Quickly, I send her a text letting her know I’m okay and with Miles now. I’ll explain everything later, I tell her.

Miles glances at me curiously, so I explain what I was doing.

“Cynthia’s a good friend,” Miles says. “I’m relieved to know she watches out for you like this.”

“She is,” I say. Looking down at my phone, I start to worry again, about everything that happened tonight. “What if Amber really does have pictures? If she goes to the press… she could ruin your career.”

“She doesn’t have anything,” Miles says. “She’s lying.”

“But then how did she know we were interrupted today,” I say.

A muscle in Miles’s jaw ticks.

“Miles, I don’t think it’s all bullshit.”

“She could have pictures, but she still won’t give them to the press,” Miles says. “She’s trying to win my friendship back. She knows if she acts against you, I will never forgive her.”

I want to continue to argue. Amber has already acted against me. Miles has already made clear he won’t forgive her.

She’s a desperate woman backed into an emotional corner. She might lash out. She could go full scorched earth.

“I just think we should be prepared for the possibility,” I say.

Miles hums. He’s still furious, but I can tell he’s at least considering my words.

More messages suddenly light up my phone. Thinking it’s Cynthia getting back to me, I check.

One message is from Cynthia: I want every single detail. I don’t care if it’s midnight. Call me!

The rest, all thirteen and counting, were from the unknown number I now know belongs to Amber.

Come back now.

Come back or I’m sending the pictures to Hugo.

Not just Hugo.

You have one last chance.

Fuck you, bitch.

This is all your fault!

If you would just back off Miles, none of this would happen.

I didn’t mean that. Tell Miles I didn’t mean that.

Come back. Tell him to come back, please.

Fuck it. Fuck you! Fuck both of you! I’m sending the pictures right now.

“Miles…” I say.

“Block her,” he says.

But then an image comes through. It’s a candid shot, taken from the door of that unisex bathroom stall.

Miles’s mouth is on my neck. My legs are wrapped around his waist. My head is thrown back in clear ecstasy.

One last message comes in.

Say goodbye to your career.