Page 36 of Lie for a Lie

His belly laugh echoes through the house, filling an ache I don’t even know I had. I can feel Graham’s every step toward us until his hand is on Clint’s shoulder. I am painfully aware of the disappearing space between us when he walks past me to sit at the large dining table. Seth is behind me a moment later, putting himself between me and everyone, taking over and herding me towards the other end of the table. Chris sits next to Bre, leaving only seats next to and across from Graham.

Seth’s eyes dance between the two chairs, weighing his options. At this point, I can’t seem to care and take the seat at the end of the table, deciding for Seth. His eyes linger on everyone momentarily before sitting down with a defeated slump.

I feel my brow flicker in confusion again, and Bre also notices.

“Seth, what’s with the dramatics?”

Seth shoots Bre an annoyed look, and I can’t help but let my eyes dance between them.

“Excuse him, Bre. Seth doesn’t always do well with strong women,” Clint says, reaching over the tossed salad to one of the two lasagnas in the center of the table.

“I will admit Paige is different than I have dated in the past.”

Seth smiles and reaches for my hand. His touch feels more like a weight, and I let my attention linger on it momentarily before reaching for my water on the table with my free hand.

Clint looks between us and lets out a soft laugh.

“Paige has been a little pain in my ass since birth,” Bre chimes in, sipping her wine. “I remember our mom constantly yelling at her to stop climbing all over things or trying to run off.”

The group laughs softly, and I play with my glass.

“That’s because I was trying to escape. I eventually just gave up, and now here we are,” I gesture to the table, taking a sip of my drink.

“All kids are a pain in the ass,” Clint adds before nodding to Chris. “This one could never say no to a pretty girl.”

Clint’s eyes shift towards Graham next.

“This one doesn’t know when to cut his losses.”

Graham shrugs his shoulders before taking a sip of his whiskey. Clint finally lands his attention back on Seth.

“This one will never grow up.”

The words almost insult Seth, and I squeeze his hand slightly. Bre lets out an annoyed sigh, which catches my attention.

“Paige has that problem too, Seth. I guess that’s one thing you two have in common.”

Bre’s tone was slightly hostile, and I can’t help but look at her confused.

“You, okay?” I ask, directed towards Bre.

She smiles before shooting a look towards Seth.

“I’m great.”

I can’t help but feel like I am missing something. I decide to change the subject, not wanting to deal with Bre.

“So, I have a weird question. I don’t know if I missed this in orientation to this family, but I thought you two were battle buddies?”

I let my eyes dance between the three military men in the room, and all three of them let out a soft laugh before Graham seems to adjust uncomfortably in his seat. Clint clears his throat before speaking.

“When Chris was about eleven, and I had been divorced a few years, I became a foster parent. Graham was the only child we took in, and I legally adopted him around fourteen. Right before we moved out of Missouri to California.

“Not a lot of people know, and he did it mostly to help me gain access to my grandparent’s estate that had been left to me, so I didn’t have any issues when I turned eighteen.”

“That’s why you moved here when you retired?” I ask Clint before shoveling some food into my mouth.

He looks in my direction and laughs, sipping his wine.

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