“What are you talking about?” mom asked.
“Short version, I had to spy on Karma for dad. Her boyfriend’s dad thought she was a gold digger. And I think she just found out.”
My sister started laughing.
“It’s not funny. We’re friends, and I didn’t want to hurt her, but it was either me or a stranger. I hated doing it, but I had to prove her innocence.”
“Is this the girl who made you donate the dress?” Lana asked.
“Yeah.”
“Well shit,” she said.
“Yep.”
“And she’s on her way here?”
“Yeah. Major just texted me. I don’t know what she knows, but he said she’s pissed. Dad said he’d help me if I needed it, and knowing Karma, I’m going to need all the help I can get.”
“I’ll give him a call,” mom said.
“Thanks,” I said, and got up from the couch.
Last I knew, she was going with Anthony after bowling. Did he tell her? But dad said he didn’t know anything about it. Did Antonio say something to her? If he did, I was going to have words with him, client or not. Just because you have money that doesn’t mean you’re above the rules. I had another text.
Major: Taking the long way
Me: Thanks
Mom came over to me. “Your dad will be here in ten minutes.”
“You tell him why?”
“Yes, that’s why he’s hurrying,” she said.
“Thanks. Major is doing his best to take his time as well.”
“I’m sorry, honey,” mom said. “I’ll tell you if I was in her place, I’d be angry. So, don’t be surprised if she goes off like a rocket, and she probably won’t listen to you, so be prepared for that.”
I nodded. I knew enough about Karma to know she was going to bite my head off, then try and eat me alive. I paced the living room until I heard the front door open and close.
“Bodie,” dad called out.
“In here,” I said.
“Tell me what you know,” dad said.
“Not much. Major texted me that he was on his way here with a very pissed off Karma. I can only assume she knows. She was with Anthony last night but that’s all I know.”
“Okay,” he said. “I know how important this is to you son. I’ll be right here with you and I’ll talk to her before she talks to you.”
“No dad. I deserve whatever she has to give me.”
He shook his head at me. “I see you believe that, but I don’t agree. Antonio Pagano is the one who deserves it, but we’ll save that for another time.”
My phone dinged. They were here. There was a knock on the door and mom answered it. I heard Karma’s voice.
“Excuse me ma’am, is Bodie here,” she said.
I was surprised at how normal her voice sounded.
“You must be Karma,” mom said. “He’s in the living room. Right this way.” Mom walked into the living room followed by Karma, Major and Kayleigh.
Before I had a chance to say anything my dad spoke. “Karma, Bodie, let’s take this discussion to my office.”
We nodded and went with dad. He sat at his desk and we took the chairs.
“Karma,” dad said, “before you start yelling at Bodie, tell me what you know.”
“No offence sir, but what do you have to do with this?” she asked him.
“Everything. Now please tell me what you know,” he said, in a tone that left little room for argument.
I think Karma figured out it was pointless to argue with him, so she started talking.
“I overheard a conversation between Anthony and his father. Mr. Pagano had your company look into me because he thought I was after their money. And Bodie was the one to do it.”
“Yes, that’s basically the gist of it,” dad said.
“Okay, can I yell at Bodie now?” she asked. “Because I really want to.”
Dad leaned forward and put his elbows on the desk. “I understand you’re angry, and you have every right to be. But I’d like to tell you something first, okay?”
“Okay,” she said.
“When Antonio Pagano first brought this to me, I was going to tell him no and to find another company. He didn’t know that I knew who you were, and I never told him. But then I thought about it and decided to do it because I knew you weren’t the person he was accusing you of being. That’s why I asked Bodie to do this. When I first told him, he was furious at Antonio and said there was no way he was going to spy on you. But then I convinced him that it was better for him to do it because he knew you weren’t after anyone’s money. I asked Bodie to do this for me because I knew he would find a way to prove your innocence. He cares about you and wasn’t going to let you be labeled as a gold digger that was after their money. Does any of that make sense?”
“I guess,” she said quietly.
“I know it doesn’t make the situation any better, but I wanted to let you know that Bodie did this from a place in his heart because he values your friendship and didn’t want to see you hurt. Now, I’m going to let you two talk for a while.”
Dad left and it was like the air had gotten heavier. I knew Karma was furious and this could be the end of our friendship. I waited for her to say something.
“How long?” she finally said. “How long did you spy on me.”
“Three days.”
“How did you spy on me?”
“I recorded your phone calls, our conversations and had access to your texts and voicemail. I also put a bug in your living room.” I was going to tell her anything she wanted to know.
I could tell she was thinking. “Is that why you asked me if I was with Anthony for his money?”
“Yes,” I said. “I knew it would make you mad and I hoped you would go back to your apartment and vent to Kayleigh. That’s what ultimately proved your innocence.”
“But you invaded my privacy, Bodie.” She sounded more hurt than mad.
“I know, and I hated doing it. That’s why I pushed the conversation with the money. I felt like such an asshole for what I was doing. I wanted to clear your name as quickly as I could.”
“So, you read my text messages, even the ones between me and Anthony?”
“Yes.”
“You recorded all of my phone calls, our conversations and what was said in the privacy of our dorm?”
“Yes.” I wanted to say more, but I didn’t know the right thing to say.
“How could you look at me every day, knowing that you knew you’d been lying to me about this whole thing?”
“You lied to me for over two months, Karma. How is this any different? I can’t stand that you’re with that douchebag, but I knew you were happy with him. So, I did something I didn’t want to do in order to make you happy. You lied to me because you were scared.” I probably should have kept my mouth shut but I had to say something.
“I may have lied, but I didn’t betray your trust,” she said, getting louder. “Do you have any idea what it feels like to learn that someone you care about has access to the most intimate details of your life? That someone you trusted invaded your life in the worst possible way? I let you in, Bodie, I told you something that I don’t tell anyone and now I can’t trust you.”