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"We'll speed walk then. I hear that's better for the glutes." She jokes. Her blue eyes look down at the bottle as she swirls it in her hands now. "It means I don't trust anyone but you, Pops. This place is crawling with the CIA, and now there's a new team—a team that terrifies even the CIA. We just need to get away from everyone and figure things out. Nothing is permanent. Maybe Julian is innocent."
But maybe he's not. That’s what she's not saying.
My body trembles. "I can’t..."
"You can, and we will. I already have a plan in motion," she says, setting the bottle down as if she needs her wits about her for what's to come.
"What the hell does that mean?" I press.
"Shh," she smirks, "It's okay, it's going to be an adventure. You and me against the world, outsmarting Andrew."
"I'm not an action figure, Harper. I crumbled when I confronted Andrew. Look at me—a mess, drowning my fears in half a bottle of wine."
"We're savoring our future victories. We're celebrating early." She refuted, "Glass always half full, Pops, no more doubts."
"I'm a mess, Harper," I stress as I grab my hair and twist it into a knotted bun.
"Every mess has the potential to be fabulous. And we will be. It might be nothing, and if so, I'll let you pick out my straightjacket. But what if I'm not crazy? What if Andrew was onto something? I'm not siding with him; trust me, I'm going to destroy him. I just need to get us away from all these fucking dicks. Our pussies need a break. We need a cleanse. I’m going to get to the bottom of what’s going on with Julian and this whole situation and how it fits in with Andrew.”
I slap my forehead. "Oh my god."
"There's always a time for prayer, Pops," Harper replies, her voice taking on that familiar sly, devilish tone. She’s zero to sixty when it comes to plotting world domination.
"What am I supposed to tell Julian?"Am I considering this?
"Nothing. Rule 101 when running is not to tip off the chasers—unless you're into that kink."
"Are you doing this because things with Kent are too serious?"
She narrows her eyes, wounded. "I'd never jeopardize your relationship because I'm afraid of mine."
I sigh. "I know. I'm sorry."
“I’m honestly not sure who the Sterling men are anymore, and since we’ve both been dick deep in them, I’ll call the shots and say we take a little siesta to think.”
"But what do I tell Julian?"
"You’re going to finish your wine, shower, and go to bed. Tomorrow, you're going to tell him you're going for a swim on the rooftop. I'll join you. That's all you need to know. Leave the rest to me."
My expression slackens. "Who the hell are you, Harper?"
She grins. "I'm every liar's worst nightmare, and I'm your best friend. I've had an escape plan for us since I started at the NSA. Once Dan brought me on board, I upgraded our exit strategy, thanks to inside access to CIA databases. The world is full of pricks, and sometimes, we just need a breather. I've saved enough Bitcoin for us to live comfortably, and I've got enough fake passports for us to travel incognito. Don't worry," she reassures with a giggle, "I know one thing: that man inside loves you. He might be lying, but his love is real. His uncle heads the CIA, and his brother Theo, that shady fucker, has connections we'll uncover. Don’t worry, if we're caught, I’ve got allies; our time behind bars won't be long."
“That’s your safety net!” I shake my head.“No way!”
She grips her stomach and laughs,“Oh, your face. But seriously, yeah, that’s my plan. It made you laugh, didn’t it.”
I touch my cheek,“I’m not laughing.” I’m spinning.
“But it made you stop thinking about all the men in our lives, right?” Her blonde brow raises in hope.
I hate to admit it, but yeah, it did.
"That's because it's insane."Does she want to run with fake IDs?!
She shrugs, "You and me together—that's always been the definition of insanity. But we always have fun, and I know my bestie, right about now, needs some fun, a distraction from all the men, even the ones who love us."
Maybe running is best just until I figure out what’s going on. I pray I don’t stumble, only to find that Julian hasn’t been my hero but the villain all along.
