The Truth About Us

“I’m sorry, again. Really.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I can’t believe I actually hit you with my car,” she said.

“Well, it was more of a tap.”

“A tap? A few minutes ago, you accused me of trying to mow you down.”

“That’s when you were being snippy. Besides, a moment ago, you accused me of stalking you.”

She chuckled for the first time that day, then groaned as the base of her skull throbbed. “I feel crazy. I think all this is just too much.”

“Hey, I understand. It’s normal to be kinda out of it after you lose someone. It’ll get better, though.”

“No. It’s not that.” She shook her head, wondering how much she could tell a virtual stranger.

Could she say anything at all? A part of her felt like she kind of owed him on account of hitting him with her car and all.

“There’s some other stuff. I have a lot going on. Things inadvertently related to my grandmother.”

“Maybe you need to take your mind off everything, even if for a couple hours. When my mom died, that’s what I did. I’d get lost in a book. Do something to occupy my brain so I couldn’t think.”

“You lost your mom? I’m sorry.”

He nodded, biting the inside of his cheek. “It was a long time ago.” He flashed her one last smile and opened his door. “Try to focus on your driving though. I’m not so sure the next guy will be as understanding when he gets run over by a cute girl in a bright yellow car.”

“Ha-ha! Funny,” she said, but she couldn’t deny feeling somehow lighter, better in his presence.

Kaden started to get out but paused, plucking something off the sole of his sneaker.

“I think you lost something.” He held the small rectangular card out in front of him. “Private Investigator?” He quirked a brow at her. “What do you need a private—”

“Give me that!” Abby snatched the card from his hands before he could even finish. Her heart drummed in her chest as she looked over the business card. Where had it come from?

Her gaze darted around the small car when she noticed a small cubby had flung open, probably when she hit Kaden’s bike.

Turning her attention back at the card, she stared at it wide-eyed. “Holy crap. I found him.”

KADEN SCRATCHED HIS jaw. “Um, not to be a killjoy for whatever you think you’ve found, but the card was sitting right here,” he said, pointing to his feet. “I’m not sure how big of a discovery it was.” When she said nothing, he asked, “Did you lose his contact information or something?”

She stared at the card, the thoughts churning in her head. Could it really be this easy?

“Isn’t it kind of weird for an eighteen-year-old to be hiring a private investigator?” he continued when Abby didn’t say anything.

She whipped out her phone, ignoring him, and plugged the name Greg Lawson, private investigator Washington D.C. into the search bar and waited.

The search arrow circled and circled, taunting her as it failed to load. “Oh, come on!” She chewed her lip as she refreshed the search. “Work!”

Her screen faded before it turned black.

“No!” With wide eyes, she smacked her phone, frantic to revive it. She pushed the power button continuously until the empty battery popped up on the blank screen.

“Seriously?” Leaning her head back against the seat, she took a deep breath, telling herself to relax. If she didn’t get control, she’d never see this thing through without having a heart attack first. She could read the headline now: Breaking News: Girl has Stroke at Eighteen. Stress from Grandma’s Secret to Blame.

When Kaden cleared his throat, she opened her eyes, nearly forgetting he was there. Glancing over at him, she asked, “Hey, can I use your computer? I need to look something up?”

He frowned. “I don’t have the internet.”

“Seriously?” She eyed him like he had three heads. “How do you do papers and stuff for school?”

He shrugged. “Go to the library.”