Page 28 of Emerald

Maybe she’s right. He was probably trying to throw me off because I got snarky with him.

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to act, Kenzie?” I tell her honestly.

“Oh,” Mackenzie says as the phone falls silent between us. “Isn’t that kind of your thing? Being a chameleon?”

It is, but I don’t know why this time I’m unsure. “I am, but this time I don’t know if I want to taint the name Ellie Clark.”

“Oh,” Mackenzie says again before falling silent.

Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m getting all up in my head for no reason. I’m overthinking it.

“Do you feel like Ellie Clark is now the real you instead of Elena Vasilov?” Mackenzie asks the question that I have been asking myself deep down inside.

“Yes,” I answer honestly.

“Aw, babe. You really are a Clark girl now.”

I roll my eyes at Mackenzie.

“Nash knows you are Ellie Clark, right?”

I nod.

“Then explain to Nash that while you are here you will go by another name. He knows Brooks and Sophie and the things they are into. Telling him you need to change your name while in Mexico is not something he would balk at. He’s ex-military he knows the drill,” she tells me.

Maybe she’s right.

“You think so? I don’t want him getting suspicious?” I say.

“You could always suck his dick to make him forget,” she says as she bursts out laughing.

“Kenzie,” I squeal at her.

“Sorry, you know I have no filter,” she adds still chuckling.

“I don’t need to get laid. I need to find Pearl.”

“Sorry, I’m being utterly inconsiderate.”

No, she’s not. Her jokes are exactly what I need to fix my funk.

“I’m projecting my own thoughts,” she grumbles.

“What about Damon?” I ask her.

Mackenzie’s eyes widen, and her cheeks turn pink. “No, he’s not into me like that.”

My brows pull together. “I saw you kissing him behind the bushes at the wedding.”

Mackenzie’s jaw drops and she splutters over her words. “Why didn’t you say anything?” she asks.

“Wasn’t my place,” I add.

“Do you have any idea how I have been wanting to talk about what happened that night? But I promised I would never say anything.” She moans.

Oh. I had no idea. “So, nothing’s happening between the two of you?”

She shakes her head. “He told me he was drunk and that he shouldn’t have kissed me. That he loves working for my family and blah, blah, blah.”

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