Deception Read Online Free PDF Page B

as it came through? Putting my phone down, I contemplate going to church alone, but decide to pass today. Today’s the day to gather myself and do a bit of confronting.
    • • • •
    While exiting the shower, I hear my phone ringing downstairs. After drying off and getting dressed, I head down to see who called. I have one new voicemail, it's from Tracy. She asks if I want to spend the day with her and a few friends, so I call her back.
    "Amy."
    "Hey, Tracy. I'm surprised you're awake so early on a Sunday morning," I quip.
    "Hey now, go easy on me. Fine. Alison texted at eight o’clock to see if we could do something today. I wasn't exactly awake when she did. But I am now," she jokes in return. "So do you want to join us? We want to go to the beach. Alison is calling Laura to see if she wants to come too."
    "Sure, I guess I'll go."
    "Is everything all right? Did you find anything else out from yesterday?"
    "I did look at his iPhone, but he has a lock on it."
    "No fucking way, Amy. He's setting himself up for being guilty."
    "I know. But, in his defense, he could have it locked because it’s also his work phone. He may have a lot of important contacts and information in it. You know, if he should happen to lose it, it would be awful."
    "That excuse sounds good and all, but do you really want to believe that?"
    "I don't know what to believe," I say, overwhelmed by the whole situation. "I read more of the text messages on the TracFone. It made me vomit, literally."
    "That’s it. You need to get dressed because we’re going to the beach today. We’re going to figure out what you do from here. You have to fill me in on what the texts said. Actually, take the phone with you. We can snoop through it for you. It’ll save you the heartache of having to see anything more."
    "I'm not sure the phone works anymore," I say, cringing. "I kind of smashed it up against the dresser."
    She lets out a small giggle. "Oops. Well, then we'll have to come up with a Plan B."
    "Yup."
    Forty minutes later, Tracy is ringing the doorbell. I greet her at the door and she stands there looking at me without saying a word. "What's the matter?"
    "What is that parked in your driveway?" she asks, pointing to my new car.
    I smirk. "Rich bought it for my birthday."
    "Well, I guess there has to be more to the text messages because there’s no way that a cheating boyfriend would buy his girlfriend a car that costs over $300,000." She gasps. "Holy shit, Amy."
    "I know," I say, having thought the same thing.
    "We’re taking your car today," she says, smiling wide. "Alison and Laura can take their own car."
    When Laura and Alison arrive, I'm in the middle of showing Tracy the inside of the car. "Damn girl," Alison remarks, getting out of her Jeep.
    "Hi," I say, feeling embarrassed. I've never been the flashy type, or to put myself on display for having money. And this car does the exact opposite of that.
    "Is this your car?" Laura asks.
    "Can you believe it? Rich got this for her birthday," Tracy says, in shock.
    "Wow."
    "So which beach are we headed to today?" I ask, trying to change the subject.
    "Not sure, we haven't gotten that far in our planning yet," Tracy says.
    "I know of a little beach about an hour from here. Do you want to do that?" They all nod in agreement, not taking their eyes off of the car.
    An hour or so later, we’re parked down from the Love Shack and they’re remarking how nice this little town is. We take our beach towels, umbrellas, and bags, and head down to the beach. It's evident that it is going to be packed today. People are already laid out and in the water. We find a spot to spread out our towels and umbrellas a bit to the left of the Love Shack.
    Laura has me tell the girls what I discovered yesterday. Alison convinces herself that he's guilty, and Tracy seems to be in agreement. But Laura remains quiet, looking disgusted, when I summarize what was read on the phone. Laura’s known me since we were kids. She's been