I let that sink in.

If he gave them to Arthur, Arthur would examine them, write down the time, and ask two questions Julian wouldn’t want to answer.

Julian didn’t know that.

He thought he was being generous.

“Fine,” I said.

He smiled and stood up, brushing a leaf off his trousers.

“You won’t regret this, Sloane.”

That was the first honest sentence he had spoken all morning, because I had already begun regretting it before he even finished saying it.