“Hey, Kris.”

“Hi,” I say, and once again, the tears come when I see the pity in Jackson’s gaze. I’m like a damn leaky faucet. But Jackson is like a brother to me, and I don’t want him to ever see me this way.

His big arms wrap around my shoulders, and he holds me tight. “Don’t cry. Don’t you know men are stupid when they see tears? We can’t seem to say the right things.”

I sniff against his chest. “Even big bad Navy SEALs?”

He laughs. “Especially us. Just ask Catherine, it’s her best weapon.”

“Good to know. I’m assuming you’re not here for moral support?”

Jackson looks at me and shakes his head. “No, but I am on your side.”

“Right.”

“Let’s go talk.” He jerks his head toward the couch.

As we make our way over there, I pull my shit together. I need to be strong through whatever is coming. I’ve had my time to feel sorry for myself, now it’s time to woman up. My life has definitely taken some turns, and I’ve survived them all. It hurts now, but eventually, it will ebb.

“I need you to answer me honestly, and I swear I won’t judge or be upset.”

I lift my hand to stop him there. I know what he’s going to ask, and I’d rather not hear the words again. It’s been hard enough. “I didn’t write it. I didn’t send it. I have no idea who did.”

He gives me a sad smile. “I didn’t think you did.”

“Do you have any idea how this could happen?” I look to him with hope. He owns a security company and has done investigative work. Of course, I have no idea what the hell he can do to help me, but maybe there’s someone he knows.

Jackson gets to his feet and grips the back of his neck. “Not yet. I need you to give me anything you can so I can start digging. I told Catherine I was getting involved because if someone is setting you up, I’m not going to sit back and watch.”

I want to believe there’s a way to get to the bottom of this, but I don’t know if it matters. Noah is leaving, so why do I care? He obviously believes I did this. Each minute that passes without a call or text, my faith in us diminishes. I thought we were building a strong foundation. I believed in Noah enough to risk my heart again. Someone took that from me, and I’m not sure how to get it back. Or if I can.

“What the hell can we even do?” I ask him.

“Well, first I’m going to—”

“Jackson!” Nicole squeals from the hallway when she sees him. “It’s been forever, you sexy beast of a man!”

Oh, Lord. “Nic,” I warn.

“Oh, shut up.” She smiles and rushes toward him. “He knows I’m only perusing the goodies.”

Jackson gives her a hug, laughing at her antics. “Some people never change, huh?”

“Nope. Why mess with perfection? That’s my motto.”

I make a gagging noise. “Sorry, I was just choking on my puke.”

Nicole slaps my back and then plops beside me. “Anyway, I’m betting you have some master plan to get Kristin’s name cleared, don’t you, big guy?”

“I need access to your email, phone, and laptop. I’m going to have my guys run a scan and see if we can find anything. You’d be surprised what people can do remotely,” Jackson informs me. “Then, if we don’t find anything there, we’ll dig deeper. All things that are buried find their way to the surface, and I’m one hell of an excavator.”

“I bet you are,” Nicole practically purrs.

I smack her leg and get to my feet. “I’ll give you access to my whole life. I have nothing to hide.”

“Good. Let’s get going,” Jackson urges.

Nicole pulls me into her arms. “It’ll be okay. No matter what.”

“I’ll call you later.”

“You better.”

We say goodbye to Nicole and head over to Noah’s building to pick up Catherine. I tell myself the entire way that he won’t want to see me, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to run inside and pound on his door. The distance we had a few minutes ago is closing, and the knots in my stomach grow.

Jackson parks along the curb, and I want to be sick. He’s inside that building. Right through those double glass doors is the only man I’ve ever truly loved, the only man who made me feel like I was worth something. As he puts the car in park, Catherine exits, for which I’m thankful.

I wouldn’t be able to handle sitting here and waiting.

She looks back to me, takes my hand, and squeezes. “I’m doing what I can. Just know that, okay?”

The tone in her voice is a warning, but not in a threatening way. “What does that mean?”

She and Jackson share a look. “It means we need to figure this out quickly.”

Realization hits me. Noah is Catherine’s priority. She’s going to do whatever is necessary to spin the story, and I’m going to be the target. “Noah wants you to take me down, and my dirty laundry is going to be used, isn’t it?” I ask without any emotion.

Jackson pulls away from the curb and drives toward my house. Neither answer me. Their silence is all I need. She’ll have no choice, and Catherine is very good at her job.

I lean my head back, close my eyes, and allow my mind to shut off. This was how I dealt with Scott’s abuse. I learned how to become numb, hear nothing, see nothing, and become nothing. It’s been months since I’ve done this, but here I am, pretending I don’t exist and this isn’t real. Numbness is a reprieve where nothing can touch me.

“Kristin.” Catherine shakes me, bringing me back to the now.

I force my legs to move, and the three of us walk inside.

My breathing becomes labored as my mind replays scenes from the last few months. Noah sitting on the couch with Finn and watching Harry Potter. Noah and Aubrey feeding the animals in her play area. The table where he kissed me before we made our way to the bedroom. The kitchen floor where I tackled him. He’s everywhere.

I clutch my stomach and double over, needing this to stop.

Catherine grips my face, forcing me to look at her. “I know this is horrible. I know that you just want him to trust you. Believe me, I wish it were that simple, honey, but we can stop this if we can find out who is behind it. Noah doesn’t want to believe it’s you. He wants it to be anyone else. He’s not happy that you’re gone. He loves you, he told me, but he’s at a loss because everything points to you. Now, are you ready to find a way prove it wasn’t?” Her eyes are filled with determination.

I hold her wrists, take three deep breaths, and nod.

Even if Noah is gone, I need to exonerate myself. I did nothing wrong and whoever is behind this needs to feel even an ounce of the pain I’m in. So, yeah, I’m more than ready.