Within just a few hours, all three of my books are inundated with reviews labeling me as a murderer. Now, when you scroll through the comments on my lighthearted fake-dating rom-com, the first thing that pops up is, “THIS IS WRITTEN BY LUCY CHASE, THE WOMAN WHO MURDERED HER BEST FRIEND.”
That’s quite unfortunate.
As I leave my grandma’s house after the interview, Ben gives me a concerned look, but I’m too drained to address his emotions right now. Technically, this situation is his doing.
Several times, I envision running him over with my car. I think I deserve some credit for resisting that urge.
I drive directly to Nina’s house, showing up unannounced. It’s not the best move, especially since she has kids, but I’m out of patience and don’t care anymore.
She answers the door with a rightfully annoyed expression. This is what she gets for inviting me over. There are real benefits to not letting me know where you live.
She’s in sweats, her hair up in a haphazard ponytail with a giant piece sticking up in the middle. She rests her head against the side of the door, like even standing here is too much effort.
“I’ve had a really shitty day, Lucy,” she says.
“I know you two were like BFFs in high school, but I swear to god, that woman is such a stuck-up bitch,” Savvy rudely declares in my head. I’d pushed back a little on that one. Told her that Nina came off as aloof sometimes, but she was actually very nice.
“Well, I’ve had a shitty five years, so how about you give me ten minutes?” I counter.
She sighs, glancing over her shoulder to where an animated show is playing on the television, the kids on the couch in front of it. She steps out onto the porch, closing the door behind her.
“I’m not doing another interview with Ben,” she said. “I texted him no a few hours ago.”
“Smart choice.”
She eyes me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean that you’re about to take my place as the cheating, lying whore suspected of murder, so nothing good can come of that interview.”
She pales, and stutters before she’s able to get a word out. “You don’t think that I killed Savvy?”
I don’t, but I just shrug.
“The thing with Matt and me—” “I don’t care.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose. He was just always there and my ex and I were always fighting.”
“Seriously, I don’t care. I would have cared back then, but I can’t really muster the energy at the moment. I would recommend you stop, considering what we just heard from Julia.”
She leans against the side of the house, exhaustion on her face. “I didn’t know. It was never really more than sex with me and Matt, so we never fought or…” She swallows hard. “I’m an idiot.”
“I mean, I married him.”
Her eyes shift to mine and then quickly away. She wants to say something in response to that, but is clearly holding it back.
I wonder what else she’s been holding back. “Did you hook up with Colin?” I ask.
“Is there a woman in this town who hasn’t hooked up with Colin Dunn?
Even your mother slept with him.”
“But were you with him while he was dating Savvy?”
“No, before, but we both know that Colin and Savvy weren’t exclusive.” She raises an eyebrow. “Savvy got around more than Colin, if I
remember correctly. Funny how the podcast conveniently leaves that out.”
Savvy appears on the porch, mouth open in mock anger, like she’s insulted. “Excuse me, are you trying to imply that I was a slut? I told you I never liked this bitch.”
“Why did you go see Matt, the night of the wedding?” I ask, ignoring
her.
“I was drunk. It was stupid.”
I wait, but she doesn’t elaborate.
“I would never sleep with your husband, for the record,” Savvy says.
“Because I’m a good friend, but also because you have terrible taste in men.”
“Oh, you’re one to talk,” I snap.
And I realize, too late, that I’ve said that out loud.
Nina freezes, slowly looking over her shoulder to where I’ve just spoken to my imaginary friend.
“Are you … okay?” she asks hesitantly.
I flush. “I’m fine. What did your stupid drunk brain want with Matt that night?”
“I…” She pushes a hand through her hair with a sigh. “I knew you two were at the wedding that night, and I decided I was going to go over there and make a scene so that you would know I was sleeping with Matt. He’d been talking big about leaving you, and I was going to force the issue. I went over there and waited.”
“What happened when he got there?”
“I asked where you were, and he just started screaming at me to go home. Barely even let me get a word out.”
“So he was upset? Or angry?”
“Yeah. I figured it was because he could tell what I was doing, waiting outside his house like that. I just started apologizing and left.”
“Was he … I don’t know, disheveled? Dirty?”
She takes a step back, putting her hand on the doorknob in preparation to flee this conversation. “Matt didn’t kill Savvy. I know him. He didn’t kill her.”
I cock an eyebrow. “You know him so well that you didn’t realize he was beating the shit out of his wife?”
Her face hardens. She says nothing.
“Why is everyone so eager to jump to Matt’s defense, but the entire town immediately decided I was a murderer?”
“First of all, Matt wasn’t covered in Savvy’s blood. And second of all, I defended you on that podcast.”
“I know you did. And I thought it was because we used to be friends, but I think it’s more that you felt guilty for sleeping with Matt. Am I close?”
“Go fuck yourself, Lucy.” She walks into her house and slams the door.
