“Are you going to answer me or look at me like I’m insane?”
“Look at you like you’re insane.”
Sara pushed herself up into a full sitting position. “Paul…” She blew a stand of auburn hair from her eyes. “I’m being serious here.”
“So am I.” He put his hands on her shoulders and leveled his gaze at her. “You’re not a murderer.”
She dropped her eyes to the comforter. “There’s a person who isn’t alive because of me. I know I only took the one criminal justice class, but the last time I checked, that constituted murder.”
“Sara?” He paused until she met his gaze. “You were drunk. You weren’t really in control of yourself.”
“Is that supposed to make it any better? Being drunk isn’t a get out of jail free card.” She shook her head. “Why did you help me cover it up?”
Paul sighed. “You had enough problems that night without worrying about that.”
“Doesn’t really answer my question.”
“I didn’t want to see your life go down in flames. I cared about you too much to see that happen.”
Why didn’t he get it? “You should have let me die that night, you know. I’m poison, Paul. I was poison back then and I’m poison now.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Well…you really aren’t too bright, I guess.” A slight smile touched the corner of her lips. “I mean, you love me when I’m trouble and you want to be a cop when you’re brilliant enough to get into law school.”
“Stop changing the subject. Besides, if you’re trouble, Tancredi, you’re my kind of trouble.”
She slumped against him. “I hate you, Paul Kellerman.”
“That’s okay because I love you.”
“I’m being serious. I’m trying to warn you to run for the hills and you’re being impossible.”
“Is that what you think you’re doing?” His arms circled her waist and scooted her closer. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks more like you let something get under your skin and upset you. Now, you’re in here beating yourself up for things you can’t change.”
Would it kill him to be wrong once in a while? “You don’t understand.”
“I understand that you’re saying things you don’t mean. We both know you don’t believe it would really be better if you were dead.”
“I might.” Defiance crept into her tone.
“Okay, one, that’s not better because I wouldn’t have you in my life right now. And two…if I’d let you die then your father would have lost his wife and his daughter in the same night. You know that’s not better.”
He had a point.
Paul didn’t wait for a response. “I really don’t see how it will do any good, but let’s go tell everyone if that’s what you want. We can go out there and tell everyone about how much you had to drink at the party, about what happened with Sucre. I’ll tell everyone what secret I buried that night.”
When he put it like that…He was right. It wasn’t any better. Even though Michael set the events of the night in motion with his lies, Sara couldn’t bear the thought of him knowing.
And Nika. Even after all this time, she’d never forgive her.
Paul pulled away to look at her. “So, what are we doing? If we’re going to go ruin your life, let’s get it over with because I’ve got a table to refinish.”
“What?” The absurdity of his words made her smile. Then laugh. “Fine. Go refinish the table, jerk.”
He kissed the top of her head and rose to his feet. “I’m going to assume you mean jerk in the most loving of ways.” He shook his head and crossed the room to the door.
Actually…she did.
“Wait!” She hopped off the bed and scrambled over to him, closing the door and flipping the lock before he could open it more than an inch.
“Um…is something wrong?”
“Yes. No.” She shook her head.
“That’s not an answer.” Concern filled his eyes. “You’re all flushed.”
Her heart was beating out of control. How could she be so stupid for so long?
“Sara, what’s wrong?”
“Don’t go yet.”
“O-kay?”
“It’s you, Paul. It’s always been you. I don’t know why it took me so long to see it.”
“What are you talking…”
“You’ve always been there, even when I didn’t want you to be,” she blurted. He didn’t understand what she was saying. She could tell by the confusion etched across his features. “Paul…I love you.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Meant to get this bonus chapter up earlier in the day, but something interfered with my writing time last night. There’s still a regular Friday chapter coming. 
Jen
© 2009, Sydney Katt. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of content will result in dragon attacks.
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*jumps up and down* So it has something to do with Sucre?? Man, my head is gonna explode…lol….Soooooo many questions!!!!!
*does happy dance* and another chapter today!!! You’re just too good to us hun xxx
Yeah…it’s not looking too good for poor Papi right now, is it?
I thought doing three in a week might be a nice change…especially since Freelancer has a LOT of weeks where it’s going to run 4+ days and I don’t like to post more than once per day on here. Gotta get in some bonus posts while I can…
Oh I am intrigued! Who does she believe she murdered!? This is getting more and more exciting! X
You know me…My lips are sealed.