Page 77 of H E R

It all clicks suddenly. Sara already knew both Olivia and Jason; she’s much too comfortable in their space. Had Dylan introduced them? And if so, when did he approach Sara? I watch as Olivia chats with her and they smile pleasantly at one another. My heart rate spikes, and I instinctively move away from Dylan.

He looks at me and frowns, but I ignore him. I don’t like secrets. Maybe Sara explained herself to Jas while outside, but my best friend is still upset about something. I can tell.

“How do you,” I point to Dylan, Olivia and Jason, “know Sara?”

Sara’s eyes grow, but Olivia grins wickedly. Her full lips move into a tight line, and she hugs herself smugly. She looks at Sara and sweeps her hand to emphasize the room we’re in. “The floor is yours.”

I notice she squeezes Jasmin’s hand, as if to keep it in hers, and my best friend/sister’s nostrils flare.What the fuck is going on?

Dylan clears his throat. “We don’t have time for this shit. I don’t believe in coincidences, but apparently these two met in college. They’reoldfriends,” he says, and it sounds like a challenge.

“We all want the same thing,” Sara suddenly says. “To put that fucking scumbag away.”

Jasmin finally tears her hand free and crosses her arms, as if guarding herself. She looks to her right, where the front door is, and then at me.

Something in her icy look makes me stand. “We need a minute.” I turn to look at Dylan, who’s already towering beside me. “Alone.”

Olivia pops up and approaches me. “Of course. I’ll show you the kitchen. It’s this way.”

She leads Jasmin and me out of the fancy sitting room and into one of the cleanest, brightest, and most exquisite kitchens I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Including a television. An enormous-sized island sits between the walls lined with white cabinets. A stainless steel fridge is to the left, directly across is the stove. She opens the fridge, grabs two beers, and pops them open, then hands them to us.

“My house is your home now. Make yourselves comfortable.”

Once Olivia walks away, Jasmin and I both place our beers on the island and she grabs my hands.

“Sara doesn’t work at Best Buy.” Jasmin rolls her eyes and her arms tremble. “Apparently, she works as a tech specialist for some private, unknown company that tracks and apprehends predators of all sorts.”

Fuck. Well, that sounds familiar. I close my eyes and let out a slow breath.

“You know something.” She lets go of my hands and when I open my eyes, she’s backing away from me.

“Of course not!” I hiss. She relaxes but searches my face. “But…” I look around and throw my hands in the air. Fuck it. “It’s basically what Dylan does, too. Jason works for him.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t know how to take it all in. He’s…” I search for the right word.

“Psychotic?” Jas offers and we laugh. “Are we going to trust them?”

I sigh. “I don’t think we have much of a choice.”

“Yea, well. I’m still fucking angry that she lied to me. I mean,Dylanfessed up.”

Dylandidtell me.Everything.

He understood I wouldn’t forgive a lie or an attempt to cover something up. Regardless of its importance. He risked me turning him away and bared his truth. I’m not sure why Sara kept things from Jasmin, but we have a fucking party to go to and standing around in thisexquisite kitchen isn’t going to help us get ready for the sick and scary night that awaits us.

We take our beers when Dylan appears in the archway. He steps into my space and tentatively places his hands on my waist.

“I just recently found out about Sara and looked into her once Olivia told me. She pans out.” He glances at Jasmin, who’s frozen beside me. “But I have no way of tracking it back to when you two met.”

Jasmin nods and looks down at her beer. The dark glass sweats in her hands. “Not very good detective work, huh?”

Dylan chuckles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He doesn’t trust Sara, and immediately I’m suspicious. “Maybe we should call this whole thing off. Or at the very least, you two should stay put. Jason and I can attend and—”

“Absolutely not. I waspersonallyinvited… I’mnotsitting this one out, rookie.”

Olivia suddenly pops her head in. “I agree with Justice. We can handle this, D.”

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