Page 30 of Lie for a Lie

“So let me get this straight. He takes weeks to ask you out, and now he has the audacity to make you wait on him?”

I hear Bre say horrified on the phone, followed by a smacking sound.

“Ow.”

I let out a much-needed laugh.

“Did she just hit you?”

“It was a love tap,” he says with a smile to his tone before continuing.

“Paige, I have known Seth for a long time. He can be unpredictable sometimes, but he will do anything for someone he cares about.”

“Do I leave, or do I stay?” I ask him honestly but am unsure if I want the answer.

Internally, I am screaming at myself for ignoring those obvious red flags. I have known this guy for under a month, and it shouldn’t be this hard already.

“What would you like to do?” Chris asks softly.

I let the question roll around in my mind.

“I want to go to the goddamn movie. This bar was all his idea. I’m leaving,” I say, clearly understanding how this can leave things between Seth and me.

“Do me a favor and at least text him to meet you at the drive-in instead. Go have fun, and if he shows up, hear him out,” Chris says.

I don’t hate the suggestion.

“Thank you.” I groan before eyeing the drinks I just paid for.

“Now, if you excuse me, I have to find someone to drink these beers. I’ll see you later.”

Chris laughs softly before hanging up the phone. I bump the arm of the woman next to me.

“Excuse me, sorry to bother you. I just got stood up. Is there any chance you would want this round of beers?”

I smile softly as she studies me before her attention drifts behind me. She points over my shoulder with a grin.

“Honey, you weren’t stood up.” The woman nods in her thick accent.

I turn around to see Seth standing behind me. Freshly showered but drunk. His shaggy blond strands have soaked his white t-shirt. A million-dollar shit-eating grin is on his face, and I know he heard every word of my conversation.

“I texted you to say I would be late,” he says.

I can’t tell if he wants to start trouble or is trying to be playful.

“Take these,” I tell the woman I have been sitting next to before standing up and acknowledging Seth.

“Your text didn’t make it seem like you would be.”

I look over to my watch and do the math.

“Thirty-six minutes late, to be exact. All you asked was for me to meet you here.”

I motion around the bar just as one of the hockey players makes a game-winning shot.

The bar erupts into a thunderous roar, and I just smile, shrugging my shoulders before grabbing my bag and dropping a cash tip on the counter.

I shove past Seth but don’t make it a foot before he grabs my hand and pulls me to him. Crashing his lips against mine. I can taste the vodka and cigarettes on his lips. I find it intoxicating and I lift myself on my toes to deepen the kiss.

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