Page 23 of Tell Me Lies

“Asshat,” I grumbled, flipping my ponytail over my shoulder.

“You know…” Maxom’s eyes swept over me in a quick assessment. The smile that twisted his lips was nothing short of sinful. “I think I prefer seeing you in my brother’s clothes.”

I blinked. “What?”

Maxom backed up until he leaned against his locker and reached into my bag. “Let’s find out what you have in here that you don’t want me to see.”

“You’re such a freaky little stalker.” I broke through my trance and into his space to snatch the bag from his grasp, surprised when he let go so easily.

“I’m the little stalker? What are you doing here?”

“I thought I left a watch with Lennox. I wanted to see if maybe he picked it up here at the gym.”

It was a shitty lie, and we both knew it.

“You thought he’d bring your watch here and not tell you?” Amusement raised both eyebrows along his forehead. “You can do better than that.”

“Anyway, I checked. No watch.” I raised both bare wrists. “So, I’m good to go.”

I edged backward, aiming for the door but unwilling to take my eyes off the man I tried to sabotage. If he caught on to what I’d done and I was still here… Welp. I really needed to leave. Fast.

“Yes, you are. Bye, now.”

I studied the strange smile on his face. Something was not right. “Why were you at my house that night?”

His eyes narrowed as he took me in. “What did you have in the bag that you didn’t want me to see?”

“Feminine products.” The lie shot between my lips before I could stop it.

That same smile sent something very different than fear rippling through my system.

Need.

Oh, my God. I’m perving on my ex’s brother.

Well, that likely had been happening for a while, but this was the first time I admitted it to myself. The first time I knew I wanted him. Something was horribly broken about me.

“You’re a terrible liar, Sutcliff.” Maxom turned his back, dismissing me.

I took the offering as a moment of grace and disappeared through the door before Lennox found me and I had to deal with them.

It wasn’t until I reached into my bag once I was outside the gym, searching for my phone, that I realized a little vial of chili powder was missing. The smarmy bastard knew what I’d done all along and played me. Again.

Nor had he answered my question about why he was at the house or taking pictures that night, like a sneaky perv.

There were questions, and I needed answers. I wouldn’t stop until I got them.

Chapter Four

Maxom

Her house smelled of lilies and sweet tea and freshly cut grass. All the scents that made up a home, or so they said. I wouldn’t know, never having had a home to fall back on in my life. Maddie might not like the fact she was on a free ride scholarship leaving her as the poorest pleb in a sea of wealth, but the three women who surrounded me as I perched on a pristine white sofa sure as hell made a good interim family unit for her.

As far as families go. Because again, I wouldn’t know.

I sipped the too-sweet tea and swallowed like I was supposed to, watching each girl as they studied me in return. All bright colors, jeans and tees and rainbow tights, nary a twinset in sight. I was relieved. That crowd never felt like home either, though I frequently socialized with them to maintain my family heritage. No, those people were never my home.

But this … had the beginnings of one.

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