“Oh?” I frowned.
“Yeah, and I have a feeling she’s not going to want me there.” Her head jerked to attention, and she looked right at me. “We have to be there.”
“Uh, what?”
“Yes, we do.” She pointed at me. “You, too. Susan hates you. I know what you’re thinking.”
“I don’t think you do.”
“It’s not like I want to cockblock another girl. To each their own—but not her. I hate Susan. She’s so condescending, and she makes everyone feel like they’re dirt under her feet. I would hate if she got this guy—although, he’s a killer, so maybe that would be Karma for her. But still, I hate the thought of her getting this guy. I hate her for even trying.” She snapped her fingers. “I’m getting you to that interview with me somehow. This will be great. Just you being there will annoy the hell out of her. If she thinks she can scoop me in some way…hell nah, that’s not happening.”
Erica started forward, but my feet stopped working. I stood there, watching her talking to herself, as she hadn’t noticed that I wasn’t at her side. She wanted me at the interview—with her and Kian. So many scenarios were running through my mind. This could be bad, really bad, for me. But Erica had her mind set. I’d heard the determination in her voice. She was going to see it through, no matter what I did.
Kian couldn’t tell anyone. I would have to plead with him, make him see reason, but even at that idea, ice plunged through my veins. That meant I’d have to see him. I’d have to talk to him. It’d have to be in private. He couldn’t act like he knew me. If he did, all the attention would go to me. Step one for Blame Jordan would be successful.
My God.
My heart started racing again. The media storm that could happen—from the discovery that I was at the same college he was being interviewed by, that I would be in the room when it happened—would be disastrous.
“Jo?” Erica had clued in that I wasn’t at her side.
I looked down. From the distance of her voice, I had a few seconds to clear my mind and make all the panic go away.
Three.
“Hey.” She started toward me.
Two.
“Jo?” A weird laugh slipped from her.
One.
I looked up, and she was right in front of me, frowning at me, as she scratched her nose, flicking her glasses back up.
She asked, “You okay?” She looked around. “Were you talking to someone?”
“What?”
Lie, Jo. Do what you’re best at. I forced a smile at my roommate. Snark’s voice sounded in my head. “Stick to the truth, but be vague. It’s the best form of lying there is.”
I said, “I don’t know if I can go to the interview with you.”
“Why not?”
The newspaper was still in my hand, and I held it up. “Because he scares the shit out of me.” Truth.
“Oh.” Her frown deepened. “Others will be in the room. You won’t be alone with him. I promise. You don’t even have to talk to him. I just have to ask him general background questions and get that on camera. He’ll be with the senior reporter for the harder questions. Susan’s supposed to be the meet-and-greet one. You can take a breather and watch from the green room for that.”
I shook my head. “No, Erica. I don’t want to be there. I don’t want to be around him.” Not the truth.
“Please, Jo.” Her eyes were pleading with me. “Okay, yes, I think it would be amazing if you were there. Susan hates you. She’ll be on edge if you’re even in the room, but for real, I could use a friend, too. This interview is going to be huge, and the more allies I have around, the better. I’m scared Susan’s going to take all the credit. That can’t happen.”
She needed me. She needed her friend. I had to go, but damn, I didn’t want to.
“I don’t know…”
“Great!” She tugged me to her and hugged me. “Thank you so much, Jo. You’re the bestest roommate in the world. Now, enough about me and the Destroy Susan plan. Let’s get to the other part that is rubbing her crotch red—Jake. Or”—she playfully nudged my arm—“the friendship that we all know is going to develop into more between you and him. That’s driving her nuts already. She asks if he’s been over to our place every morning.”
“There’s not, for real.”
“Okay. For real, should I be concerned? You’re not acting all besotted like last time, so I haven’t been all up in arms, but if I need to be, you say the word. Jake Monroe will go down.”
I shook my head. “We’re friends. I couldn’t…” I hesitated at what I should say here. I ended with, “It’s been too soon after how it ended with him. It was only seven months ago. I…we’re just friends.”
“Okay.” She held my gaze, making sure.
I nodded.
She dropped it. “Say the word, and I’m all about the Hate Jake parade. I’ll do my own float if I have to.”
I grinned, saying lightly, “Thank you.”
She nodded as we began walking again.
I couldn’t do the interview. There was no way I could even risk the exposure, but I had a few days to think of an excuse. I needed a good one. Erica wouldn’t be swayed by anything except if I were on my deathbed. I hoped it wouldn’t come to that.