The lies you love, p.11
The Lies You Love, page 11
“Sure,” I say.
“Wow, you don’t sound excited. You don’t have to go. We can take a night off. Figured I’d ask so you know I’m not hiding anything or anyone from you. I can go by myself.”
I ruffle my hand through my wet hair and am pleased when that, paired with my body seems to distract her. “It’s not like that.”
“What’s it like?” she asks. “Some rules about you not being able to party?”
I raise one brow. “Please. Auden, drinking spiked fruit punch in the woods isn’t my idea of a party or a good time,” I say, holding up a finger. “But being with you is, which is why I said sure. Anywhere you are, I want to be.” I feel like an idiot with the JV move of touching her goddamn phone. I walk over to her. “Listen, I’m sorry I touched your phone.”
“You went into my purse to touch my phone,” she points out.
I sigh. “I’m sorry.”
I sigh again, louder this time. “I hate that you think I don’t trust you or that I’m some weird fuck who wants to get into your business. I promise that’s not it at all.”
She narrows her eyes. “What is it then?”
When I don’t respond, she nods. “Another lie.”
“No. Not a lie.”
She pulls out of my grasp and opens the fridge. “As long as you aren’t gay, I don’t care, Beck. Also, I’m still starving.”
Thank God she seems to be over my dumb-ass move quickly. “Let’s order in. What’s your favorite kind of food?”
A shadow crosses her face. “Anything but Chinese.”
I swallow down the lump in my throat. “Pizza it is.”
My phone chimes from my jeans pocket on the floor and I fish it out. It’s Grey, but I ignore it and order pizza instead. I’m sure he’s found something on the Rifts and wants to talk more. My heart races. “Hey, so I was thinking,” Auden says, testing with the tone of her voice. “The whole bonfire thing got me thinking about a bunch of camping gear I bought a while back. Do you want to go with me? There’s a lake and a pretty campsite a few hours outside of the city I was going to check out. It’s a double tent.”
“Yes,” I return. “I want to go with you. When?” Another pang nags at my stomach. Was my answer so fluid because I want her so badly, or because now I think she needs protection?
She shrugs once, taking out a bottle of orange juice and grabbing a bourbon glass from the cart. After she fills the glass, she drinks a few sips and stares at me. “Does next weekend work? I need to hire another employee at the pet store. I finally have enough liquidity to get more help.”
“Sure,” I say. “I might know someone for the job.” And then I know you’re safe from hiring someone with ulterior motives.
“Yeah?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. Her look is one of utter delectation—standing there so casual, in my shirt, like she can own me by wearing a single piece of my clothing.
Fuck, maybe she can.
I nod, scrolling through my contacts. “Tess is Ronan’s fiancée, and I think she’d love working there. She’s been looking for something part-time. They have a few dogs and no kids. She’d be the perfect employee.”
I send her the contact information. “Tell her I told you so.”
Auden nods, crossing her feet at the ankles. Another move that makes my cock twitch. “What are you thinking about right now? Can’t be the pet store,” I say.
She shakes her head. “Nah. I’m trying to decide where I want to put the pizza. When it gets here.”
I lick my lips. “Not in your mouth then?”
Her eyes turn to slits. “No, not in yours either.”
I can’t help the stunned look that crosses my face. Auden laughs so hard, she can barely breathe, and the remnants of her orange juice splashes across her body. Oh, well. Just going to have to lick every drop off to clean her up.
CHAPTER TEN
Auden
Today was an insane day at the store. I ran a sale and hordes of folks descended like vultures to purchase things for their pets. I ran out of leather leashes and took two dozen orders for my new personalized dog dishes. There are always certain moments that stand out in time and memory. Opening the store for the grand opening was one, and today was another. Everything seems to be falling into place, and dare I say, I’m feeling optimistic about my future for the first time since he left. Because I was swamped, I was only able to fire off a quick text to say hello to Beck, he confirmed we are still on for tonight and now I’m locking up the store. I have at least another hour to get everything stocked and ready for tomorrow. Ramsey’s face appears in the glass in the front display before she bangs on it with a fist.
I unlock it and let her. “You’re gonna clean that window. I don’t have time for Windex, Rams. Do you see this place? It’s like a tornado ripped on through.”
She grins. “A tornado of sales! Congratulations! I came to help. After your text this afternoon, I figured you might want a couple extra hands, and then we can ride together over to the property.” Ramsey waggles her fingers at me like she’s a magician. “For some fun!”
I rattle off a few tasks she can help me with, and as she begins to fold dog shirts on the circular table in the center, I begin. “Do you know the person? The guy that owns the property or whatever. It seems kind of weird to be going to a party in the woods instead of his house.”
Ramsey shifts her gaze from me at the cash register, balancing today’s book, back to the shirts. “No, I mean. Kind of. I know of him. I got an invite from an old friend.”
I wince. “An old friend? Ramsey does not do old friends, she only does new friends,” I heckle. “Who exactly?”
“Someone I used to know.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop quoting song titles and spill it.”
“There’s nothing to spill.” I can tell by the tone of her voice she won’t be telling me anything. Just as well. “He knows an acquaintance of mine. A guy I sleep with on occasion. I thought it would be fun, and well, Griffin won’t relent so I thought it would be a fun date on neutral ground. And I’ll get to know your new toy.”
Beck. I swallow hard. I’d love to keep him locked away from everyone else forever, but this is the next step. “Oh, stop. He’s just entertainment. Nothing to see here.”
“Bullshit,” she counters, folding the shirt she just folded again because it wasn’t perfect. “You like him, like him. I’m trying to figure out if it’s just good dick or if you want him for keeps.”
Zipping up the thick cash bag, I tuck it under my arm. “I think,” I say, choosing my words carefully. “You must already know how I feel.” Ramsey is staring at me. “Did you find the plant you were looking for?”
“Don’t try to change the subject. Did he at least tell you what he does when he is working and not taking a random month’s vacation?”
After I stash the money in my tote, I break down an empty box with a box cutter. “Yeah, I know enough.”
Her foot begins tapping. “So, what did he say he does?”
“Government work, Rams. It really doesn’t matter.”
“It matters,” she counters. “What exactly in the government does he do?”
This isn’t what I thought she’d be interested in. She hasn’t asked once about the sex last night. “Tech,” I say, lying. “He does some tech work I don’t understand. It’s shift work and is unpredictable.” By giving him something that is easily defined and hard to explain, I’m making him more likable. Telling the truth would lead to more questions from my friend. How he’s only able to see me for a month. Or that it seems like he’s involved with things that err on the side of danger. Those aren’t traits to put in the positive column. Lying to my friend is easier than handling her truth.
She squints her eyes and offers a weird smile. “Tech? No way.”
I nod. “Why don’t you believe me?” My voice trembles on the last word. She knows I’m lying.
“Look at him. He does not look like a man who sits at a computer all day.”
The cleaning crew comes tonight, so I don’t pick up the pile of boxes, but I do tidy up the cat food cans. “Never judge a book by the cover. Is that what you’re wearing tonight?”
Stacking cans, I match the flavors up. Shoppers made a mess of the organization in their hunt for whatever flavor their cat wanted. “Yes,” she says. “I still can’t believe that’s what he told you.”
“You act like you know for a fact he’s lying, Rams. What’s up?” More like I’m lying.
She shrugs and shakes her head, unaware I’m watching her. “Nothing. I just had him pegged as someone different.” She meets my eyes and recognizes my accusatory glare. “I’m sure he’s a great guy, but you know how many men I’ve been around and I usually have them typed with one glance. Your guy threw me off, is all.”
I nod. “Sure, Ramsey. Just do me a favor and don’t tell him you’ve typed him when we see him tonight.”
“Oh, come on, like I’d embarrass you in front of a potential candidate.”
I grab my handbag from the back room and notice my phone is lit up. “I would also like to add you don’t actually get to know men, Ramsey. You sleep with them, and more often than not, it’s only once. You don’t know someone after one romp.”
I round the corner and smile when I see it’s a text from Beck. “And you know this guy after two romps?” Ramsey asks, blocking me from leaving the back hallway.
I swallow hard. “There is a lot of talking in between,” I argue as we move toward the front door so I can lock up. “And it’s been way more than two romps,” I edge, hoping she’ll ask the questions she always does… our safe territory.
“I didn’t find the plant. Well, I found one on some obscure website, but it was too expensive.”
“Can we swing by my place or yours so I can freshen up?” I check my watch. “We have time.”
“Sure,” Ramsey says, voice deflating, still lamenting about the plant as we walk to the car. There’s a new display in the store next to mine, I notice. There are swords with lights shining from the top. A shiver traces my spine. It’s stunning, but it has a horror-laced edge. Pausing in front of the display, I peer into the back just to make sure a monster isn’t going to pop out. Ramsey pulls on my arm now talking about Griffin. She tells me she didn’t want to give him another date because he seemed too nice, but because I put in the good word, she thought it was worth another shot.
“He came quick,” she says, getting into her car.
I smirk. “How quick?”
Ramsey scoffs. “I got mine, but definitely not a second,” she exclaims.
I laugh loud, laying a hand on my stomach. “He’s really interested in you,” I argue. “I think that’s worth not getting a second orgasm in one bathroom fuck.” Ramsey laughs but agrees with me.
I tell her Beck will make sure I get to work in the morning. She runs a hand through her hair and pulls into traffic. I always catch myself watching Ramsey. The woman presents like a celebrity or a supermodel, or some kind of untouchable character. Her skin is flawless, and her hair always looks like she walked out of a salon. At the start of our friendship, it was hard to understand why she wanted to be my friend. I’m no slouch, but I was rolling out of trauma with health issues and a chip on my shoulder. Ramsey still asked to hang out. More frequently than the friends I’ve had for years. While I healed from all the things my other friends kept moving on in their lives. All of a sudden, the things I had in common with them became null and void. Ramsey never makes me feel like there’s something wrong with me. She is just always there.
She parks in her devoted spot in the apartment building’s parking structure and starts talking about what she’s going to wear. It doesn’t matter, I know how much Griffin wants her, so it definitely doesn’t matter if she wears a trash bag. I follow her into the second bedroom, which serves as her closet, her shoes filling shelves from floor to ceiling on two walls. “You need to wear this. It says party, but not like party, party.” She tosses me a skirt and a top. Her wardrobe also resembles something from Hollywood. I only asked once where it all came from, but like always, it was easy to see she didn’t want to answer truthfully. I inherited it was her reply.
I put on the outfit while she tries on three different tops from a freestanding rack and admire it in the mirror that takes up the entire other wall. “Like always, you’re right,” I say. What I don’t say is I know Beck will like the skirt. Pushed up around my stomach, that is.
****
We run into Griffin first. He’s holding a large glass topped with foam. This is a sophisticated bonfire party. I’m glad I dressed the way I did, but then again, I’m sure it’s because Ramsey knew the dress code and made sure I was in accordance.
“You guys look like smoke shows,” Griffin says, eyeing Ramsey only a couple of seconds more than he looks at me. “This place is ridiculous, isn’t it?” Ramsey doesn’t look impressed; it seems she expected more. The way she’s eyeing the keg on the pool deck with distaste is the final nail in my assessment.
“It’s like a college party but for grown-ups!” I exclaim, grabbing my friend’s hand. “This is the nicest pool deck I’ve ever seen. Is it even a pool deck? It has another house out here, and a stage and people are literally walking on water.” The pool has a layer of plexiglass covering the entire top making it the coolest dance floor I’ve ever seen. There are lights in the pool that make it glow brightly.
I’m too preoccupied with taking in every detail of the mansion in the distance to hear what Ramsey and Griffin are talking about. There are about a hundred people loitering around, mostly by the keg, but there is a small bar in the corner where people are standing around. I don’t recognize anyone, but that’s not shocking because it looks like most of these people come from a different world. If I’m simple, they’re Ramsey’s people. Beautiful, rich, and uncaring about the problems of others. Not that I assume that about my friend, I just know her.
“Oh, there’s the bonfire,” I say, eyeing the few gas fire pits scattered around the edge of the deck, all closest to the wood line.
It’s amazing how the cement gives way to nature right outside of the city. I’m not used to seeing wide-open spaces, so all of it is a feast for my eyes. It’s why I wanted to go camping. It wasn’t just an excuse to get Beck to myself. Getting away, where the stars are bright and the light from the bustling city doesn’t water down everything, is the greatest form of relaxation for me.
“Beck is on his way. He was, uh, running late,” Griffin says, tearing me from my thoughts.
I cock my head. “He left before us.”
“Yeah, he had a meeting or something that came up.”
“A work meeting?” I know I sound like a jealous cat, but he didn’t say anything to me. I check my phone just to be sure I didn’t miss anything since we left the house. Nothing. I raise one brow at the blue lock screen on my phone. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter,” I add.
Griffin shakes his free hand, palm facing me. “It’s not like that. I think it was work. He’ll be here soon.” Great, it’s so obvious that his friend can see my jealousy. I’ve been great at hiding emotions. I sigh. Griffin drapes an arm around Ramsey. “Let’s go get you guys a drink.”
I follow, walking over the pool, trying really hard not to feel like a third wheel, a position I always play when I’m out with my other friends. He’s on his way, I remind myself. He’ll be here soon. No one is dancing yet, but all eyes are on us as we cut across the corner toward the bar. Gazes linger, curious glances, mostly aimed at Ramsey and Griffin, people whisper, and I try not to let my own eyes land on any one person for too long. This is why I suck at networking; I should see this as an opportunity instead of being nervous.
“Hey beautiful,” a man’s smooth voice rolls over my bare shoulder the moment we halt in front of the bar crowd. Smooth, but not Beck smooth, I think.
I glance over my shoulder to meet steel blue eyes glinting in the light. He’s handsome, my height, and has shifty eyes. The kind women shouldn’t trust. “Hi back,” I say, unclenching the fists by my sides. Ramsey and Griffin are at the bar, but Rams glances back and stares at the guy through narrowed eyes.
The man gestures toward the line. “All this to get a drink? They must be slinging vodkas with gold inside or something.”
“Hah,” I reply. “Or something,” I add on.
“What, or better yet, who brings you here tonight?” he asks. I can’t tell if he’s the kind of person who talks to anyone to kill time. You know the type, the ones that will chat you up while you’re waiting to check out at the grocery store. It usually has me cursing the employee for scanning groceries so slowly.
Pressing my lips together, I debate how much I want to tell him. “A friend of a friend. What about you?”
“Oh, I live in the pool house half the year.” He laughs. “My brother owns all of this. It’s his party.”
Well, that’s uncomfortable. “We’re sort of crashing your house then.” I nod at the pool house that has to be seven times the size of my apartment. “Not getting much sleep tonight.”
His grin is calculating mayhem. Uh-oh. “Well, I was hoping not to sleep tonight.” His eyes rake my body.
Ramsey slides through a few people to stand next to me, handing me a glass with clear liquid. Her favorite drink, I’m sure. Griffin follows, looking warily at the man in front of me. “Beck not here yet?” Griffin asks.
I shake my head. “Just saying hello to the host here. His brother owns this place.” I gesture to the man, but Ramsey is already focused on him like a laser. Griffin notices the odd exchange but can’t say anything. “I’m going to take this drink and go take a spin to check out the scenery. Thanks for hosting in your front yard,” I tell the man, grateful to escape the awkward permeating the air. Griffin follows.
