Page 12 of Lie for a Lie

It has been a few long days since the chaos that was Bre’s birthday, and I’m still unsure what to make of it. I was woken up in the middle of the afternoon when there is a knock on my bedroom door.

“Paige, do you want some breakfast?”

Bre says in a gentle question.

The scent of freshly brewing coffee and homemade muffins fills my nostrils. I groan as I pull my comforter off of my face. Feeling rather confused and possibly sleep deprived as I notice Bre has her chocolate brown hair in hot rollers, which conflicts with our girls’ night plans of catching up on our favorite smutty reality show this week. A mixed drink of each other’s choice and some serious girl talk.

“Bre, why is your hair in rollers?” I ask, sitting up in bed and taking the coffee from her.

“The muffin is lemon blueberry. Your favorite!”

Bre says with the fakest smile I have ever seen. I glare at her and snatch a muffin. Those are my favorite, but she only makes them when they benefit her.

“Are you ditching me for Chris on a girl’s night?”

I ask as pieces of muffin fly out of my mouth, but I am too tired to care. Taking a sip of my coffee.

“Kind of. How about we treat tonight more like a double date type situation?”

Bre’s tone seems hopeful. However, my anxiety is rampant at the idea of a blind date. The last time I did one of these favors for Bre, I had to get a restraining order against the guy.

He was a paralegal Bre knew, and I went on a single date with him. After I told him I didn’t think it worked out, he broke into our old apartment while I was showering to confess his undying love for me. I actually felt bad for him when everything was said and done. He lost his job, and last I heard, he moved to a different state.

“I don’t know if I have recovered from the last one,” I say, sticking my tongue out at her.

Bre sighs disappointedly and begins to give a pouting face.

“Please, Chris’s roommate has wanted to meet you since he had to cancel on my birthday.”

“You haven’t spent a night away from Chris in weeks. At this point, you could have invited him over for a girls’ night. He isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.”

“She already did that!”

Chris yells from just beyond my open bedroom door as I glare at Bre, who is smiling in a way I have never seen before.

“You are so lucky I love you because he,” I say, pointing towards where Chris’s voice had come from, “is way too hot for you.”

Chris roars with laughter, and Bre smiles softly.

“You can leave now. I want to go to the gym. No arguments,” I say, using my feet to shove Bre away from me.

I recently signed up at a new gym, which typically isn’t packed at this time of day. It is one of the few 24-hour gyms in town, offering hospital staff discounts, which I take full advantage of.

“Fine.” She smacks at my thigh before turning toward the door.

“Thank you,” Chris yells before I hear Bre yelp loudly and say something about not messing up her hair.

I laugh and finish the last bite of my muffin before using the restroom, changing into my workout clothes, and chugging the coffee before quickly brushing my hair and teeth.

I look at myself in the mirror, exhausted.

“It will have to do.” I sigh to myself before grabbing my Air Pods off the charger, keys, and gym bag.

I made my way quickly through the front room toward the kitchen to grab some water. I hear a small scream followed by laughter and moans.

“Jesus, they are fucking like rabbits.”

I groan, closing the fridge and rolling my eyes in annoyance and probably a bit of jealousy before heading out and driving to the gym.

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