“Yes, I did that, but what you did was way worse. Camila and I are in trouble now. I can’t believe you’d do that to me.”
“And I can’t believe you’d lie to me about already being married.”
“That was wrong. I know it was wrong, but I can’t change the fact that I signed a confidentiality clause when I was twenty-two years old,beforeI knew you.”
“It sounds like you are more sorry that you got caught than sorry that you lied to me.”
“Okay, fine, maybe I am a little sorry I got caught.” Her glare deepens. “But I’m also sorry that I hurt you. That’s the last thing I would ever want to do.”
She purses her lips, not saying anything, though I’m leaving ample time for her to apologize for going behind my back and telling my biggest secret.
“Don’t you want to say sorry to me?”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.” Her chin flicks upward.
“Yes, you did. It was wrong to go out of your way to find Glen Lucas and tell on Camila and me.”
“Nope. It was the right thing to do.”
I can see I’m not going to win this argument with her, and right now I have to choose my battles, so I move on, knowing I’ll probably bring it up later when things between us are better.
I proceed with caution, stepping toward Shanna slowly. Gently, I place my hands on her arms. When she doesn’t slap me, I continue pulling her to me and wrap her in a hug.
“Can we get over this?” I whisper into her hair.
She shrugs against me. “I don’t know.”
“I just want to make things right between us and move on.”
“Are you paying the money back and getting divorced immediately?”
My breath pauses before answering. “No.”
Anger drives her away from me. “Why not?”
“Well, Camila refuses to pay the money back. She says she can prove this marriage fulfilled the conditions of the trust.”
Her arms go out to her sides. “Oh, well, if Camila refuses, I guess we have to just do what she says.”
“She is the other partner in this marriage.”
“No, Hess.I’mthe other partner. Not Camila.”
“You’re right, but in this instance, I kind of have to defer to Camila because she’s a lawyer and knows all the legal stuff I don’t. You can understand that, right?”
“I suppose so.” Shanna inclines her head, contemplating me. “Do you want to know how you can make this better?”
“Yes, please.” I sigh, placing my hands on her hips.
“You have to wear anI’m a liar and a cheatersign taped to the front and back of your shirt and walk around the Westgate Entertainment District for three hours.”
“That’d be funny, huh?” But the more I study Shanna’s face, the more it seems like she’s not joking. “Wait. You’re kidding, right?”
Her expression hardens. “I’m dead serious.”
“That punishment doesn’t even fit the crime.”
“Yes, it does. You are a liar who is married; therefore, you’re a cheater.”
