Page 116 of Tell Me All Your Lies

“I usually am,” she says with a waggle of her eyebrows. I chuckle as I search for my watch.

“I’ll meet you downstairs,” I say.

“Okay, I love you.”

“And I love you.”

I walk over to her with my watch in hand and place a kiss on the top of her head.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks.

“I promise.”

She hesitantly leaves the room.

I am fine. I wouldn’t lie to Cara, but talking to Luke, albeit briefly, was strange given how much has changed for Cara and me.

It’s time to focus on the game ahead of us. Tonight is one of the last steps we’ll have to take to finally get the Marlin.

I finish putting on my watch and take a last look in the mirror.

“Ready or not.”

The tournament isn’t exactlyas I pictured it would be. It’s nothing like the one that Taby had hosted. As I stand in front of this dingy building, I debate taking off parts of my tuxedo.

It’s by the coast, so I can hear the faint sound of the waves crashing in the distance. The smell of the sea is prevalent, and I try to place where the beach is from here. It’s late, making it too dark to really be able to see my surroundings well.

“Everything okay?” Cara’s sweet voice sounds in my earpiece.

“Good. Just taking it all in.”

“It’s different than what I imagined.”

“Me too.”

I pause as I see someone dressed down going through the entrance of the building.

“I need to rethink this tuxedo.”

“Maybe just put your bow tie in your pocket,” she suggests.

“Good thinking.”

I quickly undo my bow tie and put it in my jacket pocket. I’m still in a nice-looking suit, but hopefully, it’ll come across as less over-the-top than with it.

“I’m going in. Taking this out for the time being.”

“I don’t think you should do that.”

“I’m probably going to be swept or, at the very least, checked going in here. This doesn’t seem like the most trusting of venues.”

“Okay. I’ll be out here in the car waiting. Please keep me posted as you can.”

“Will do, love.”

Taking out my earpiece, I try to hide it on the back of my cell phone. It won’t be suspicious if that goes off. Technology glitch or something of the sort.

As I walk up the set of dirty steps, I bang on the broken steel door. Someone looks through a glass opening right away and gives me a once-over.

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