Page 50 of Lie for a Lie

I completely understand. As an Emergency Room Technician, I remember one night being rather awful. We had a few codes, and CPR isn’t like it is in the movies.

Those two minutes of continuous compressions add up over a twelve-hour shift. I decided like an idiot to lift after and ended up straining my shoulder. At eighteen, I thought I was invincible. Now, I feel tired and sexually frustrated all the time.

I linger on Paige a moment longer before she smiles and heads towards the machines. I find a locker and change quickly. When I am done, I spot Paige and hug her this time.

She squeezes back tightly, and I swear I feel like I have missed her. I haven’t seen her since the club, and we haven’t FaceTimed in a week.

“After you, soldier.”

Paige smiles and gestures towards the machines. I grin before starting my workout, and she follows me, asking questions as we go along. She pushes herself a few times during the workout, and I am impressed.

When we move onto the different squats and lunges, she only whines slightly at how badly her thighs burn, and I chuckle. Having to fight the dirty thoughts of wanting to be the reason her thighs are shaking like that.

When we finish, it is almost six, and I am starving.

“Can I take you to dinner?” I ask as Paige takes a sip of her water, sitting on the floor beside me.

We have finished our cool-down, but I am not ready for our time together to end.

Silence falls between us, and her smile tells me it is a struggle to say yes. Maybe it is a dumb idea, and I am misreading whatever is between us.

“Seth and I are official now. I don’t think he would like us to go to dinner together.”

“Two friends can’t have dinner after I just happened to see you at the gym?” I say, grasping at straws.

The truth is I figured Seth finally locked the fox down. She has been almost silent since her birthday a week ago.

“Graham, it wouldn’t be just dinner,” Paige says honestly, breaking my heart.

Part of me feels like she is pulling away, but I’m unsure how to proceed.

I have known Seth a long time and know first-hand how irrational his temper can be. He is a very reactive person in most situations.

I let out a frustrated sigh, but I nod my understanding. I look back towards her and can tell she isn’t happy leaving things this way.

“The night after the steak house, Chris and I were hanging out, waiting for Bre to come home from a work trip. Seth showed up drunk after ignoring both of us most of the day. He accused me of going on a date with you, and Chris has to put space between Seth and me. He wasn’t violent and mostly just pissed.”

I can feel the anger in my jaw and know Katherine is also involved somehow.

“What happened?

“We fought, and he passed out. That was about it.” She shrugs.

“Paige, I…” I start, and she reaches for one of my curls, playing with it just slightly. The gentleness of it throws me completely, and I lose my complete train of thought.

“Chris is having a few guys over to the condo tonight to show off Bre. Come hang out. Seth won’t be there, and I have to appear.”

She gives me a lifeline, and I don’t know why. I let out a small laugh.

“Sure.”

I stand up with a smile before offering her a hand and helping her up. Letting the feel of her hand on mine burn into my memory as we reluctantly pull away from each other. I know there was something here between us because I can’t get Paige out of my fucking head.

Chapter 25

Graham

“Graham,” Paige purrs softly in my ear, and I feel her hands tug at my wasitband.

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