Page 19 of Lie for a Lie

After a few well-placed shots, we take the first round. Bre reracks the balls, and Chris hasn’t spoken for probably five minutes. I am having a hard time reading his emotions besides being shocked. I know this has been an issue for both of us.

Most men bail once they hear about our childhood. Assuming we are both so messed up that it’s not worth the investment. Bre’s last serious boyfriend left her after she beat him in the only pool game they ever played. He didn’t believe her when she told him a few of our pool hall stories and demanded a game. He made the mistake of letting Bre break and never even got a chance to play. She cleared the table in three minutes. He broke up with her ten minutes after that.

I can see the fear beginning to show in Bre’s eyes when Seth leans over and says something to Chris, almost like snapping him out of a trance. Chris looks over to me and smiles before looking at Bre, becoming immediately concerned with the emotion on her face. I walk over and break the rerack while Chris wraps Bre in his arms, placing a passionate kiss on her lips before pulling away and telling her, “I am so fucking in love with you.”

His words completely throw me off my game, and I scratch the cue ball in a side pocket. I yell fuck loudly, and everyone’s attention turns to me before they let out a laugh.

Bre looks back toward Chris.

“I love you too,” she says with a soft kiss and smile. “Now, let’s kick my sister’s ass.”

Chapter 9

Paige

Afew nights later, my phone buzzes with a new message a little after two in the morning. I am in the middle of charting and have some time before my next medication passes.

Seth’s name appears across my screen, and I can’t help the smile that crosses my face. I haven’t heard from him since I woke up for work this afternoon. We have been texting consistently since our blind date, and I want to get to know him better.

My work husband comes strolling over and sits at the computer next to mine. He is preoccupied with his phone and his neon pink manicure, typing a mile a minute. I can’t help but laugh at the memory of the first time we met in this very same spot. We started the same week and bonded almost instantly over books, and he has been one of my favorite people ever since. Bre and I have had David and his husband over for dinner several times.

Seth: How’s your shift going?

Me: Good. I have a light assignment and working with David, so I am happy. How was your day?

I see the three typing bubbles appear almost immediately and disappear almost a full minute before he sends his next message.

Seth: Who is David?

I’m unsure why a bit of anger pulls in my stomach. Emotion is hard to convey through text, but something tells me I am taking his tone correctly.

Me: My work husband. David. We started the same week. We have been friends ever since.

The dots appear again for just a moment before disappearing again. I wait for what feels like forever, staring at the screen for the three bubbles to appear. My anxiety begins to surface, and I shift in my seat uncomfortably.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” I hear David say, leaning over my shoulder.

I don’t bother hiding the messages. I just drop my phone on the desk before me. I sigh before David picks up my phone and scrolls through my and Seth’s messages.

“Um, I’m confused. You have clearly expressed interest in this man. Why does he sound so hostile?”

The confusion on David’s face, I’m sure, matches mine. I let out another frustrated sigh, gesturing for my cell phone.

“I think he is just jealous,” I say as my phone notifies me of another message.

Seth: Work Husband?! Sounds like code for a side piece or friends zone. Have you two ever dated?

I roll my eyes.

God, he is jealous.

I’m going to nip this in the ass now because I do not like playing these types of territorial head games. We have only been talking to each other for a week, and this is not the right way to win my affection.

Me: It isn’t code for anything. David and his husband Sean have been married for about ten years and together about fifteen.

I don’t wait for his reply, and I place my phone in my jacket, hanging it on the back of my chair. I am thankful a new patient has come to our area and am happy for the distraction. I waste no time losing myself in work.

I recheck my phone two hours later. I have no messages from Seth and don’t know if I should be hurt. Trying not to stress too much, I somehow talk myself into maybe he isn’t checking his messages because he is so tired from working all day that he passes out, and I will hear from him when I get home from work.

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