Page 5 of Lie for a Lie

I feel the shock on my face, but I already knew they were probably fucking because that’s pretty much all they have been doing for months.

“Chris!”

Bre scoffed, swatting at Chris before he opens that card and looks at the printout. Then lets out a long whistle.

“What did you get her?” Graham asks, leaning towards me a bit. Pulling away from Katherine completely.

“Well, ever since we lost our parents, Bre and I have discussed taking a family vacation to Europe. Specifically, Italy and Greece,” I say with a nervous smile.

“I have been overseas a few times, and Greece was one of my favorite places to visit,” Graham says with a soft grin that causes only one of his dimples to deepen.

My eyes linger on it longer than I should. Katherine clears her throat and I try to focus back on the table.

“Do you remember the trip we took for our week off when we partied through Germany?” Chris asks Graham with a tone of fondness, as he hands Bre back her card.

“All I remember was pulling your too-drunk ass away from yet another girl you were meant to be with,” Graham responds, and they both laugh.

I can’t help but love the sound of it.

Katherine looks between the boys, almost seemingly annoyed. I roll my eyes and continue.

“Well, I worked a lot this past couple of years and racked up some serious PTO so we can enjoy a month-long trip and visit a few countries. I figured a month would allow us to set up a home base and travel outward from there.”

“That sounds like a life-changing trip,” Graham adds softly.

I can feel the blush on my cheeks from his attention.

“Must be nice,” Katherine says in a rather bitchy tone.

I turn my attention towards her and she seems slightly drunk. I decide to be a bitch back.

“So, you two are engaged? How’s that going? When’s the big day?”

I may have given her a rather fake smile when I ask. She responds with a one-finger gesture before pushing out of her seat unsteadily. Graham shoots up from his chair to help. Katherine immediately pulls her arm away to protest his touch.

“I’m fine. Don’t touch me. Excuse me.”

She lingers on Graham, who just seems unsure how to respond, before letting her storm off towards the bathroom with her purse, stumbling slightly like a newborn doe.

For an engaged couple, they seem off, but it really isn’t my business, no matter how dreamy this man is. They are clearly having some problems.

“Sorry.” He sighs a moment later when he takes his seat.

I linger on him a moment before I hear a throat clear. I look over to see the waiter with my salmon, and I offer him a soft smile. An awkward silence fills the space.

“Let’s eat,” Chris says with a smile, seeming to ease some of the tension at the table.

Chapter 3

Paige

About twenty minutes later, I desperately need to use the restroom. I have been putting it off for a while now, not wanting to deal with Katherine. She still hasn’t returned to the table, and part of me hopes she has left the restaurant.

Deciding that I can’t wait longer, I excuse myself, and Bre follows me with her eyes as I head into the small restroom. There are only two stalls and a small vanity with a sink and mirror. I make as much noise as possible to arouse a response from Katherine in the next stall. After washing my hands, I knock on the locked stall door.

“Katherine?” I ask, not entirely sure I want to see what condition she is in. “It’s me, the nurse bitch from dinner. Are you okay?”

No response.

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