“We’ll talk about it at the meeting.” Ruth didn’t want to spook Chloe, but they were due for a serious talk.

  “Okay. I’ll try not to be scared.” The high pitch of her voice suggested she’d already failed.

  “Nonsense. You’ve done well, and I’m very pleased.” Ruth collected her belongings. “Send me a meeting invite, and we’ll talk more then.”

  The conversation wouldn’t be easy, but it was the right thing to do. In a couple of months, Chloe had become indispensable—and every day made it more obvious that a clerical job was all wrong for her.

  Ruth would have loved to keep Chloe at her side forever, but she owed Chloe more than that—and she couldn’t let her own interests get in the way of Chloe’s future.

  * * *

  Hey, can we FaceTime tonight?

  The text from Chloe arrived as Caitlyn walked to the parking garage. A wave of dread crashed through her, washing away her good mood. Chloe wouldn’t propose a video call unless she had something serious to say.

  While she couldn’t rule anything out when it came to Chloe, Caitlyn guessed it was one of two possibilities. Either she was getting married, or she was coming home.

  Caitlyn wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else until they talked. She texted back:

  I’m on my way home from work. Can we talk in about 20 minutes?

  Sure. Call whenever you’re ready.

  Caitlyn sped home, accelerating to rocket through yellow lights as they turned red.

  After a brief hello to her mom, she climbed the stairs to her bedroom. Her sense of dread intensified with every step. She closed the door, sat on the bed with her laptop, and started the call.

  Chloe appeared on the sofa in a spaghetti-strap top with wavy hair and heavy makeup. The smears of mascara on her cheeks said the news wasn’t good.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Hi.” Chloe sniffled. “Nick and I are over.”

  The sight of Chloe in pain broke Caitlyn’s heart. It always would, no matter the reason. “What happened?”

  “We had a horrible fight. He said he feels suffocated with me here all the time. He wanted to go back to long distance, but I told him I don’t want to go backward in our relationship. I said that if he makes me leave, I’ll consider it the end.” Chloe wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “Anyway. He said that I should leave.”

  “I’m so sorry. But if he won’t even try to work it out, he doesn’t deserve you.” Also, fuck him. Caitlyn wished she could smack him for making Chloe cry.

  “I bought a plane ticket for tomorrow afternoon. Then I can start back to work on Friday.” She gave Caitlyn a tearful smile. “I’m so thankful that you kept covering for me—almost like you knew this would happen. I owe you, like, one hundred favors.”

  Caitlyn’s vision blurred. Chloe wanted to come back to work?

  “You’ll have to catch me up on everything that happened,” Chloe said, “and especially that weird text from Ruth.”

  Oh God. “Wait. It’s not that simple.”

  Chloe sniffled. “What do you mean?”

  “You can’t just come back. My role—your role—has changed since you left.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I…” Caitlyn braced herself. “I’ve been helping Ruth with data and strategy. She found out that I’m good at research, so I’ve been running numbers and exploring some of her hypotheses. And, um, we started a working group to collaborate with faculty on solutions.”

  Chloe’s bloodshot eyes widened. “What the hell?”

  “I know it sounds bad. I never meant to get involved in research while I was pretending to be you, but Ruth needed my help. Maggie has an IT background. She isn’t really a researcher.” Caitlyn paused. “Well, I’ve been teaching her basic research design, but we still have a lot to cover.”

  “You’ve been teaching Maggie how to do research?” Chloe’s voice rose. “You’re supposed to be me! How the fuck did you explain that?”

  Caitlyn’s heart beat faster. “Um, I told Ruth that I’ve—well, that you have been studying independently ever since LCC. She thinks you took some online classes, um, and learned on your own.”

  Chloe dropped her head into her hands. “Jesus Christ.”

  “I didn’t think you’d come back! You said you were staying in Colorado, and I thought we agreed that I would work there for a few more weeks, and then I’d move on, and it would all be over.” Caitlyn’s voice broke on the word over. She wasn’t ready for it to end.

  Chloe looked up. “So that’s why you wanted to stay? You wanted to keep doing research for Ruth Holloway?”

  There was no point in lying to her twin. “Yes.”

  “God!” Chloe rubbed her forehead with her fists. “This is so typical.”

  “Huh? What part of this is typical?”

  “You and your need to be better than everyone! You couldn’t stand being just the assistant—you had to show off your fancy education. And now I’m getting screwed out of my job because I’m not ridiculously overqualified.” Chloe’s face crumpled as more tears escaped.

  “What? I don’t need to be better than everyone.”

  “Oh please.” Chloe’s eyes flashed with anger and hurt. “You’ve always been obsessed with perfect grades and honors and awards. You always had to be better than me—ever since they put you in the gifted program.”

  “You’re still bitter about the gifted program?” Caitlyn was incredulous. “That was twenty years ago.”

  “I’m not bitter.” Chloe shook her head as she blinked her tears away. “Actually, I think that gifted program was the worst thing that ever happened to you. You got so much praise for being smart—from Mom, our teachers, and everybody—and now it’s like you can’t live without it.”

  “That’s not true.” Caitlyn flinched. The words stung, but that didn’t mean Chloe was right. She didn’t need praise—did she? “You don’t understand the pressure I’ve been under—the expectation that I’ll succeed at everything like it’s nothing. I mean, no wonder I have an anxiety disorder.”

  Fresh tears rolled down Chloe’s cheeks. “Well, I’m sorry you had to excel at literally everything. Poor you. I can’t believe you’re talking to me like this when I just lost my boyfriend.”

  “I’m losing someone too!” Caitlyn covered her mouth as though she could stuff the words back in.

  “What? What are you talking about?” Chloe’s eyes bulged. “Wait. You mean Ruth? You’re in love with Ruth?”

  “No. God. Of course not.” Caitlyn’s pulse raced. “I’m not in love with her. But we’ve gotten to know each other.”

  “You’re friends with my boss? Like, you two hang out?”

  “Well, no. I’m—we have a good relationship, and I’m going to miss her.”

  Chloe stared through the screen, her face streaked with makeup and tears. “I’m sorry you got attached to Ruth. But this is my job. Not yours. I’m coming back to Linvale, and I’m going back to work.”

  What could she say? Caitlyn had no claim to the job or Pulaski or Ruth. As much as she liked to pretend she had a place at the college, it wasn’t real. She just happened to look like the woman Ruth had actually hired. “You’re really coming back.”

  “Yeah.” Chloe hung her head, breaking eye contact. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” Before Caitlyn could speak, she hung up.

  “Shit.” Tears leaked from Caitlyn’s eyes. A few hours ago, she’d been on a high from her presentation. Now she was facing her last day at Pulaski.

  Caitlyn wasn’t in love with Ruth. Of course not. It was just that her whole chest ached at the thought of losing her.

  Yet losing Ruth was inevitable. Whether Chloe came back or not, Caitlyn couldn’t impersonate her forever. There was only one way this could end, and it was with Caitlyn walking out of Ruth Holloway’s life forever.

  Caitlyn closed her laptop and flopped back onto the bed. It’s over. It’s over, and after tomorrow, I’ll never see her again.

  Chapter 17

  Ruth checked her email and immediately broke into a smile.

  Alice had emailed to cancel their 9 a.m. meeting, citing a migraine. Few things improved Ruth’s mood like a reprieve from an hour with Alice. Best of all, she’d be able to use the hour for something important—a serious conversation with Chloe.

  However, Chloe wouldn’t be in the office for another twenty minutes or so.

  Tapping her fingers on the desk, Ruth considered picking up espresso drinks for both of them. Just normal boss behavior. After all, Chloe had done an outstanding job at the work group meeting. Ruth’s impulse to treat her was simply a professional gesture of appreciation.

  She strolled from her office to Kravings and ordered two iced lattes. When she returned to the office, Chloe was at her desk.

  Chloe’s turquoise blouse was professional, but she looked less put-together than usual. Her hair fell in limp strands, still damp as though she’d just come from the shower. While the false eyelashes were thankfully absent, she’d painted her lash lines with thick, black eyeliner. The makeup couldn’t hide her fatigue.

  “Good morning.” Ruth held up the drinks. “Do you have time for a chat?”

  “Sure.” It came out in a croak. Chloe cleared her throat. “Is one of these for me?”

  Ruth held out the drink, feeling pleased with herself. “I know you usually order those blended concoctions, but I remembered you got an iced latte last time, so that’s what I got you. I hope I guessed right.”

  “Oh, thank you.” Chloe accepted the drink and took a long sip. “Mmm. That’s good. I didn’t sleep well, so I really needed this.” She seemed to catch herself. “Um, but I might go back to my usual drink in the future.” There was an odd note of sadness in her voice, as though she’d be forced to give up lattes.

  Ruth almost asked, but decided she must have imagined it. No health plan would advise trading lattes for glorified milkshakes.

  They moved to the conference table in Ruth’s office. Ruth sat across from Chloe, then sucked in a breath. Chloe’s blouse had dipped down as she sat, revealing the tops of her purple bra cups and an eyeful of cleavage. Ruth forced her gaze upward.

  Not fast enough. Chloe blushed and pulled her blouse up.

  Ruth’s cheeks warmed. Focus. This was important. “I want to talk about your future.”

  Chloe’s eyes widened. “My—what do you mean?”

  “You had me fooled for a few weeks, I admit. Your carefree slacker act was quite convincing. But now we both know you are overqualified for your job. You may not have credentials, but you have skills—not to mention an instinct for leadership. I can’t allow you to continue as my assistant when you’re capable of much more.”

  Chloe blanched. “Oh. That’s okay. I don’t mind. I like being an assistant.”

  “Nonsense. I’ve seen the spark in your eyes when you work on data and strategy. You can’t tell me you have the same passion for answering my phone.”

  “Well, no. But I think… Actually, I’d like to cut back on those other projects.” Chloe twitched and twisted her hands. “I should focus on my regular job.”

  Why does she look terrified? “Calm down. I’m not firing you. I’ve thought of two options, but trust me, I plan to keep you here.”

  “Options?” Chloe squeaked.

  “Number one, a promotion. Maggie is already the director of research, but I can create a new position for you. Data strategist, perhaps. Something like that. We can look at some postings to get ideas.”

  Ruth waited but saw none of the enthusiasm she had expected.

  Instead, Chloe shrank in her chair, looking as if she might cry.

  What was wrong with her? Was Chloe afraid of failure? Or afraid of success? Whatever the reason for her distress, Ruth resolved to overcome it.

  “What’s the other option?” Chloe whispered.

  “You can enroll here at Pulaski. I’m sure I can finagle a tuition waiver for you, along with a part-time work-study position here in administration. I’m aware of your skills because I’ve seen them for myself—but when you’re ready to move on, you won’t get far without a four-year degree. This is an opportunity to finish what you started at LCC.”

  “Oh gosh.” Chloe stared miserably at her lap. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Look at me.”

  Chloe slowly lifted her chin and met Ruth’s gaze with eyes full of pain.

  “I don’t know what happened in your past that made you feel you don’t deserve to be here, but I can tell you with full authority that it’s not true. You are good enough. You’re more than good enough. So I need you to tell me what you want.”

  Tears welled in Chloe’s eyes. “I just want to be your assistant. I like working for you, and, um…I don’t want to leave.”

  She looked so broken that something else occurred to Ruth. “Is this about me?” Her chest grew so tight, her lungs felt strangled. “You want to continue as my assistant…because of me?”

  Chloe wrapped her arms around her body. “I…I think everything should go back to normal. I think that’s what I need.”

  “What…what does normal mean?” Ruth searched Chloe’s gaze, desperate to see into her head. Did Chloe want to return to the days when Ruth barely acknowledged her? Ruth had thought their connection was mutual, but maybe she’d been wrong. Oh no, what if I made her uncomfortable?

  “I’m sorry.” Chloe shot a desperate glance at the door. “Could I take some time to think about it?”

  Anxious as she was for answers, Ruth couldn’t force her to talk. Or to stay. “Well. Of course.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Chloe scrambled to her feet and fled the office.

  Ruth stared after her with her mouth hanging open. They’d grown closer in recent weeks, but Ruth never imagined Chloe would be in tears at the thought of leaving her job as Ruth’s assistant.

  Shit. Ruth rubbed her forehead with her palms. If Chloe was prepared to turn down opportunities simply to continue spending her days at Ruth’s side, Ruth had screwed up even more than she’d feared. And she had no idea how to fix it.

  * * *

  Caitlyn wandered around the campus until she found herself at the fountain. The water pressure was weaker than it had been in the past; an anemic trickle flowed down the sculpture and dripped into the pool below.

  She sank onto the bench and slumped in defeat. How had it all gone so wrong?

  Caitlyn had prepared for a day of silent, secret goodbyes. She’d resolved to be inconspicuous, only to ruin it when tears fell freely after their meeting. Her phone camera confirmed the damage: puffy eyelids and runny mascara. She’d wanted to look nice the last time Ruth saw her—the real her—and now even that was a lost cause.

  What would Ruth think when the real Chloe showed up on Friday, behaving as though her memories of the past two months had been erased?

  Chloe didn’t care about Ruth. She wouldn’t lift a finger beyond her assigned duties, and she certainly wouldn’t have Ruth’s back. Caitlyn supposed Chloe would have agreed to drive to Ruth’s house to retrieve her pills—Chloe had a generous heart and didn’t mind helping someone in trouble—but she wouldn’t have stayed to make sure Ruth was okay. She certainly wouldn’t want to help with the retention initiative.

  After a few days, Ruth would conclude that Caitlyn had lost interest in their working relationship, and there would be no explanation for the change.

  Pain sliced through Caitlyn when she imagined how Ruth would feel—all because of Caitlyn’s foolish decision to build a relationship with her under a false identity.

  She should have known better. She did know better, but she’d gotten caught up in the fantasy of some other life, where she had purpose and friendship with Ruth—and now she’d have neither, only guilt.

  I could tell her the truth. Some rebellious part of her brain finally surfaced the thought she had suppressed for weeks. For once, she allowed herself to play out the possibility in her mind.

  Ruth wouldn’t take it well—obviously. No one would, but Ruth was primed for an apoplectic reaction. She was private and slow to trust. She’d be horrified to learn she had let her guard down in front of someone who’d been lying about almost everything.

  Caitlyn would beg her to listen. Hear me out. Please. But nothing she said would make it okay.

  Perhaps Ruth would decide against alerting the authorities if only to spare herself the attention. But would she ever forgive Caitlyn? Would she even speak to her again?

  Caitlyn already knew the answer.

  Not that it mattered. She couldn’t risk exposure, not with her entire career in limbo. Plus, there was no way to explain without implicating Chloe. If she ruined Chloe’s future as well as her own, she’d never forgive herself.

  The truth wasn’t an option.

  Caitlyn watched the water for a long time. When she was sure Ruth’s next meeting had started, she trudged back to the office.

  Her iced latte was on her desk, now sitting in a puddle of condensation. Ruth must have placed it there for her. She took a long slurp and sank into the chair.

  The lights on her phone were blinking; three new messages had arrived since she’d last checked.

  She picked up the receiver with a defeated sigh. There was nothing to do except slog through the day.

  * * *

  A cloud of déjà vu followed Caitlyn as she trudged up to the English department to say goodbye to Miguel for the second time. She found him at the desk, pondering his laptop screen with a deep frown creasing his forehead, squeezing a tri-colored Koosh ball in his fist.

  “What’s wrong?” Caitlyn asked.

  Miguel startled and dropped the ball. “Oh—nothing.” He closed the laptop. “What’s up?”