Page 4 of Lie for a Lie

“You are a nurse?” Katherine lets out condescendingly, taking another large drink from her second glass of wine. My glass she stole was empty by the time we made it to the table.

Graham seems settled back into his chair and has his arm draped over the back of Katherine’s.

“Nurse, caretaker, butt-wiper, licensed drug dealer.”

“Probably a badge bunny,” Katherine says with a scoff, meaning it to be an insult.

I just clench my jaw and swirl my glass of wine. I am already over this broad.

“I haven’t fucked my way through the fire department yet, but I am next on the signup sheet,” I say with thick sarcasm.

Bre just stares at me in disbelief while Graham and Chris both laugh.

I’m pretty sure it is pure rage that begins to boil on Katherine’s face as she lifts her glass to her lips.

“Badge bunnies fuck more than just firemen.”

“Clearly, between working around five nights a week in a busy emergency room and sleeping in my free time, I already fucked my way through the police department,” I wink suggestively.

Katherine then chokes on whatever amount of liquid is in her mouth. Bre smacks my arm and uses a tone that means my ass is in trouble if I don’t stop now.

“Knock it off!”

I shoot a pissed look toward Bre and refocus my attention on Chris. Who, to his credit, had a beaming smile on his face. He winks at me, and clearly, he is not team Katherine. I am starting to get why my sister is dating him.

“Sorry, I don’t like petty people. They are nothing but distractions.”

I don’t even have to look toward Katherine as I hear a glass slam back onto the table. Graham adjusts slightly and just looks back and forth between Katherine and me.

“It’s okay. I have found you to be quite entertaining. Your sister did not do you justice,” Chris says, kissing Bre’s hand softly.

Bre’s face lights up before the slightest shade of pink crosses her cheeks.

“To finally answer your question. Yes, I am an emergency room nurse. Have been for a little over three years now.”

“Do you enjoy it?” Graham asks this time.

I shift my attention toward him as Katherine shifts her focus back towards her nearly empty drink.

“Most days,” I answer with a shrug. “What do you two do for work?”

“Army Doctors. I specialize in general practice, while my best bud here is a trauma surgeon. Or at least trying to be,” Chris says, gripping Graham’s shoulder and gently squeezing it. I don’t bother hiding my surprise.

“Doctors? Huh,” I say with a smile and play with the napkin on the table.

“I thought I told you,” Bre says, almost insulted.

I meet her stare, and she is completely unapologetic.

“Nope.” I grin and Bre rolls her eyes.

“It’s not a big deal, Paige.” Bre turns her attention towards Chris and pulls out the card I gave her.

“Look what my sister got me.”

I feel my cheeks flush, and Chris pulls the card out of the envelope and laughs. Not bothering to open the card before looking towards me.

“You know that’s why we were late?”

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