“I got a text this morning at the ceremony,” I explained. “It was anonymous and it told me to go out to dinner with Chance and that it would pay off.”
Missy’s eyebrows rose higher on her forehead. “Seriously?”
“Yup.”
“And, you don’t know who sent it?”
“Nope.”
“And, you just thought you’d trust whoever this person is?”
“I thought about ignoring it,” I admitted. “But the text says that it’ll pay off.”
“And, you believed that?”
I sighed. “I know I’m acting desperate and stupid, but I have to see this through.”
“Did you consider the possibility that this might be Jason trying to mess with you?”
“I have.” I nodded. “But I don’t think he would be that cruel. Chance broke up with me for his own reasons – this has nothing to do with Jason.”
Missy shook her head. “I don’t know if this is such a good idea, Nat.”
“I don’t, either,” I said. “But either way, I’ll have some form of closure at the end of tonight. That’ll be worth something, right?”
“If you say so,” Missy said, but she didn’t sound certain.
“You better get going,” I pointed out to her. “Otherwise you’re going to keep your parents waiting.”
Distractedly, Missy nodded and changed out of her outfit and into a sexier version. Then she gave me a hug. “Just… Be careful, okay?” she said.
“I will,” I nodded.
After Missy left, I turned back to my reflection, wondering if I was just setting myself up for a fall. I was about to tie my hair up into a ponytail when a call came in on my phone. When I checked the number, I recognized it as the same anonymous one from this morning. Grabbing the phone, I answered quickly.
“Hello?”
“Hi.”
It was a woman’s voice, I realized in surprise. The voice was crisp and confident. It sounded like it belonged to someone older, but I couldn’t be sure.
“Who are you?” I asked immediately.
“That really doesn’t matter at this point,” the woman replied. “What does matter is that I know you.”
“How?”
“From around,” she replied vaguely. “And, I’m here to help.”
I wondered if she was being cryptic for a reason or if she just enjoyed playing the part. “Help?” I repeated. “Why do you think I need help in the first place?”
“I know about you and your professor.”
I felt myself tense instantly. “What?”
“I know about you and Chance,” she said, and I definitely sensed amusement in her tone.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.