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I’ve got one message from Elle.
LIAM:hi hon. Just checking in to see how ur doing. If you ever need to talk again, don’t hesitate, k? im gonna make sure I check this thing regularly. Liam’s getting excited, he thinks im getting into gaming. Ha! He wishes.
I look for a little icon that would allow me to call Elle. It’s midday on a Monday morning but she is taking a few weeks off before the wedding so I’m hoping she’ll be at home.
“Ah, there it is!” I gasp, spotting theCall Playerbutton.
I slip on the headphones and press call. It starts ringing immediately and I wait with bated breath, hoping against hope that she picks up.
“Please, please, please—”
“Alyssa?!”
“Oh, thank God, Elle! You picked up!”
“Sorry it took me so long. I didn’t realize my TV was the one that was ringing. Oh my God, it’ssogood to hear your voice.”
“Elle, you have no idea. I’m so happy I might just cry.”
“Are you crying? Because you sound a little snotty.”
I sniff. “Umm… would you believe me if I said no?”
“You are. Lys, is that sad crying or happy crying?”
I’m not quite sure how to answer. “It’s both.”
“Okay, let’s get real. Tell me what’s going on. And who is this guy you’re shacking up with? He’s not some, like, Cuban drug lord, is he? Because I’m gonna find it really hard not to freak out if he is.”
“He’s not a Cuban drug lord. In fact… he’s not Cuban at all.”
There’s a beat of silence. I know I’m taking a risk here but I can’t help it. It’s one thing to lie over text message. It’s a whole other thing to lie over the phone. That voice-to-voice contact makes the lie feel so much worse.
“He’s not Cuban?”
“He’s Russian.”
“You met a Russian in Cuba?”
I sigh. “I’m not in Cuba at all, Elle. I never left the States.”
She gasps. “Youliedto me?”
“I didn’t want you getting involved. I did something stupid and I got mixed up with the wrong people.”
“Does that include this Russian dude?”
“Yes. No. I’m not sure.”
“Because you’re sleeping with him?”
Yes. No. I’m not sure.
“I don’t really know, Elle. It does feel like he’s just trying to protect me. That’s what he says, anyway.”
“How? By keeping you locked away? By stopping you from contacting your friends and family? By controlling your every move? Alyssa, this is serious. I’m gonna call the cops.”
“No!” I shout. My reaction is so immediate and so adamant that it shocks even me. “I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to yell. It’s just… you can’t call the cops.”
