Yesterday, I was still ambivalent about Jamie’s new direc- tion in life. I didn’t like feeling like a stranger in Spotless before we’d even left it behind for good. But now, with twenty-four hours of lying and scheming under my belt, all I can think is what a relief it would be if I could just, for once, be normal. To have re-met Liam as myself, and not the girl I have to be in or- der to keep my secrets. To be able to laugh at the Sutherlands— because Larissa, at least, is genuinely ridiculous—instead of fearing them. To find a pretty ring in my mother’s backpack and imagine that she’d treated herself, instead of wondering when she’s going to fence it.
Jamie was right. We need to get out. And we’re so, so close.
I hop onto the trunk of a fallen tree and walk it like a bal- ance beam, arms stretched wide as my thoughts swirl. What if . . . What if I made the necklace swap? None of the staff no- ticed that I wasn’t Jamie when I subbed for her today. I could do it tonight, too. I know the plan. I know how to find Anna- lise’s house, and I know how to get in. If I can pull it off, Gem would never need to know what happened. Jamie would be angry, sure, but she’d forgive me.
I reach the end of the tree trunk and spin to walk back. It’s not the worst plan in the world—except for the part where I accidentally raised my profile ultrahigh at lunch today. I can’t rely on being an anonymous background figure anymore; if the Sutherlands see me, they’re going to remember me. Still, they’ll be busy with their father’s birthday party, and there will be hundreds of people to distract them. If nothing else, I could bring the necklace with me and see if the right opportunity presents itself.