Page 10 of Kiss Cam

Me: You’re too good at this…

Savannah: I may or may not have had an obsession with that Cheaters show

Me: Thanks for your help :) love you ?

I switch over to the Tinder app and click the “send message” button under my match with Grant. I feel sick to my stomach as I type out a message to bait my boyfriend. How did I end up here?

Me: Hey sexy ;) looks like we have a lot of the same interests. Wanna meet up?

I switch my phone to vibrate, just in case Grant replies while we’re in the same room. The Keurig is calling my name from the kitchen, so I throw on some pajama pants and make my way out there. While my coffee is brewing, my phone buzzes. Anxiety runs through me as I unlock my phone and see the Tinder notification.

Grant: Goddamn you are fine as hell girl. I’d love to meet up. How about tonight? ;)

I hate this with every fiber of my being. I should just go storm into his office, or wherever he is, and show him these messages. But I know that if I do that, he’s liable to say he knew it was me all along. No, I’ve committed to this and I need to see it through.

Me: Sounds great. Time and place?

Grant: 8:00 at the Maple

Me: I’ll be there. Look for a red rose on the table ?

The aroma of pumpkin spice fills my nostrils and makes me smile. Not even a cheating fuckwad can ruin my favorite fall beverage.

“Morning,” Grant mumbles as he flies through the kitchen toward the fridge. He’s covered in sweat — usually an indicator that he went for a run.

“Hey,” I turn around and see him standing with the refrigerator door open, chugging a Gatorade. “Can you hand me the milk while you’re in there?”

Without a word, he hands me the milk jug. Once I mix in my milk and sugar, I stir my coffee and take a sip, enjoying the blissful fall flavor on my tongue. “So, I was thinking we could go see a movie tonight. The new Mission Impossible movie is supposed to be pretty good.”

I watch his body language with intense scrutiny. I can see his back muscles immediately tense up, and his shoulders start to raise toward his ears. He doesn’t even turn around to face me before he starts lying his ass off.

“Um, actually, Dave called this morning, saying he wanted to get together to discuss the case.”

You fucking no-good, piece of shit, lying asshole! “It’s Saturday, Grant,” I huff out a sigh.

“I know, but I told you — this case is huge. It could get me the exposure I need to move up in the DA’s office.”

“Okay, but how long could this meeting with Dave take? Can’t you do it in the late morning or early afternoon? Then we can hit a 7:00 or 8:00 show time?”

“I don’t know, Kelsey Bear. It could take a while.” The ease with which he lies is mind-blowing.

“Alright…” I whisper, shaking my head. “I guess I’ll go to the homecoming game at school then.”

Grant scoffs as if the idea is beneath him. “Why would you want to do that?”

“You don’t expect me to sit around here all day and night waiting for you, do you?” I cross my arms and my face forms a scowl at him.

He starts backpedaling — he won’t admit that he was hoping I would do exactly that. “N-n-no. I just wondered why you’d waste your Saturday afternoon at a high school football game.”

“Because I’m a teacher at that high school? It’s good for teachers to go and show their support for their students.” I’m making as convincing of an argument as I can, so he actually believes I’m going — but maybe I will go. Joey did ask me to, after all.

“Whatever, you do what you want to do. I’ll text you if the meeting wraps up early enough to go to the movies, okay?” He comes over and lays a gentle kiss on my lips, and it takes everything in me not to gag at the contact.

“Sure.” My response is clipped as I make my exit out of the kitchen toward the living room. Once I settle on the couch, I find myself texting Joey.

Me: Can I take you up on that offer tonight?

Joey: Of course