Doublecrossed Read Free Page A

her ass, almost mirroring Callie’s pose.
    “Ah, damn,” she muttered. “I know what this looks like, baby, but that’s not what it is.”
    For some reason, it occurred to Callie that Marina’s faint Dallas accent got thicker when she was trying to get out of a jam. She idly wondered if that was intentional or if this was the way she spoke when she was unguarded.
    “Come on, Callie, talk to me.”
    “Why?” She finally felt like she was at least tenuously connected to her surroundings. “Why? Why hurt me like this? Why?”
    “It just happened. I didn’t want it to, but Angela came by my room one night when we were at a conference and she…” She took in a breath. “I don’t want to make her sound like an asshole, but I felt like I had to go along.”
    Callie couldn’t think of a response.
    “I know it sounds bad, but I didn’t want to have sex with her. I never like to mix sex and business.” She grasped Callie by the shoulders and squeezed her tightly. “I should have told you when it happened, but I felt…stupid. I did it because I didn’t want her to vote against me when my promotion comes up.”
    Callie looked at her. How had they ever been intimate? “Is that supposed to make it all right?”
    “No. I know what I did was wrong, I know that. But I was ashamed to admit it. I know I shouldn’t have done it and I should have been an adult and admitted it. Then I wouldn’t be in this ridiculous position.”
    Another long stare didn’t make Marina seem any more familiar. Maybe this person had wandered into the wrong apartment. She was definitely speaking an indecipherable language. Confusion filled her mind. But it was her turn to talk. “I don’t know.”
    “You don’t know what, baby? Tell me.” Marina was nearly pleading now, her accent so pronounced she might have just jumped off her horse to come in and sit on the floor.
    “I just don’t know.” She slid down a little further. It took too much energy to stay upright.
    “I know I made a mistake, but it wasn’t…” Marina ran a hand though Callie’s thick red hair, pushing it from her eyes. “I swear I’ve been one hundred percent committed to our agreement—except for this one time. And this wasn’t really cheating. It wasn’t like that. I didn’t want it; I didn’t like it. I was just doing what I thought I had to do. But I was wrong. I should have quit. I’m so sorry I didn’t.”
    “Fine.” She would’ve agreed to anything to get her to leave.
    “I’ve got to go, baby. Come on. Please!” Marina got to her feet and grasped Callie by the arms. She tried to pull her into an upright position, but was barely successful. “Sweetheart, I can’t leave you like this. Come on. Please, stand up.”
    Realization slowly dawned that she had to give in to these insistent demands to be left alone. Slowly, she got her feet under her and allowed herself to be pulled upright.
    “Are you all right?”
    “Sure.” She craved solitude in a way she could almost taste. “Goodbye.”
    “Aww, you know I can’t walk out on you when you’re acting like this. God damn.”
    “Go.” If she could sound like herself, Marina would leave. Easily. “It’s fine.”
    “Are you sure?” Marina’s head was bobbing up and down as if willing her to agree.
    “It’s fine.”
    “Okay.” Marina took a quick look at her watch. “I’ll call you as soon as I can.” She hugged her tightly, whispering. “I’m so sorry.”
    “It’s fine.” Her voice was automatic, computer generated. “Bye.”
    “I’ll call.” Marina took one last look, grabbed her coat and gloves, picked up the handle of her suitcase and eased out of the door. The sound of her running footsteps echoed down the hall.

    *

    The hours passed with Callie doing nothing more than going over and over the last year and a half. How had they gotten here? Had Marina lied about everything?
    She hadn’t eaten, and her stomach was empty and sour. Marina’s betrayal was just