Page 54 of Lie for a Lie

David lets out a soft laugh before pulling me into a small hug.

“I am team Paige. And after Seth’s bitch fit when you first started seeing him, I wasn’t a fan. He reminds me of a boyfriend Sean had years ago when we broke up briefly. We are on a strict no little boy bullshit ban.”

David’s words melt my heart, and I can’t help but smile.

“Is that why you guys keep avoiding a double date?”

“Girl, it’s about time you got the hint. But if you wanted us to have dinner with Mr. Perfect, Sean wouldn’t complain.”

David’s dramatic tone has me laughing again as my phone vibrates. It’s another message from Graham, and I can’t help the smile that dances across my face. David lets out a cackle of a laugh.

“Baby girl, you are so fucked,” David croons before turning back towards the supply room.

He isn’t wrong because I am interested in an engaged man, and my boyfriend has this weird underlying tension with him that I just don’t understand. I can’t help but feel like it’s my fault somehow. Like my presence has ignited this weird alpha-male dynamic.

I look back down at my phone and see a new message from Seth. I close my eyes and take a small, steadying breath before walking towards the break room, replying to both men and locking my phone in my locker.

I stand leaning over the sink, taking in the messy bathroom reflected in the mirror. I haven’t had a chance to clean it over the past week, giving Seth all my free time away and all my late-night FaceTime calls with Graham, not to mention the near-constant texting of at least one of them.

Bre has repeatedly commented about how to look up from my phone. She eventually snatches it out of my hand, and I am thankful I have managed to lock it. Graham and I have been in a rather ridiculous conversation on who the greater fantasy writer was, Tolkien or Rowlins. Shockingly, we came up with different sides of this argument. I am reading his text about how he has talked Chris into seeing all the Lord of the Rings movies more than once in theaters.

I focus back on myself with cooled hot rollers throughout my long blonde hair and my new favorite bat shower curtain. I just feel frustrated. A few strands are falling out here and there.

Tonight, Seth and I are going on a date for the first time in almost a week, and we have plans to grab dinner at one of my favorite sushi places before heading out on the town. I ordered a new bra and panty set for the occasion. The black of the undergarments emphasizes the fullness of my breasts and I hope we can work through some of the awkwardness that seems to be lingering since my birthday.

I hear someone putting their keys in the front door and entering the apartment. I know Seth isn’t with them, so I take my time with my smokey purple and brown eye shadow—a touch of blush and a little gloss.

I grab my favorite jean mini skirt and throw it on before heading to my bed, where I take a moment to admire my new slightly oversized mesh black top with daisy flowers sewn into it that end just below my skirt. My breasts are entirely on display. The black bra clearly shows through the very see-through material.

The vibration of my phone on the bed-side table pulls my attention.

Seth: Can’t wait to see you tonight. :)

Me: Me too! :)

I sigh unintentionally as I place the phone back on the nightstand. This is the most effort I have put into myself in years—taking more days off and working earlier shifts. It helps with planning our month-long vacation. I am going to ask Seth tonight if he and Chris want to join us in Europe, and we can work something out with the cost. I know his finances are a bit of a mess, but I don’t mind helping.

At first, I’m not sure he will be interested, but I want to extend the olive branch. Confirm my intentions of wanting to date him and maybe work through these feelings I have for Graham.

With the change in my hours, I manage a few different coffee dates and two sleepovers. The problem is, we usually just have this quick nothing date and then proceeded to fucking. There seems to be no romance or really any deep conversation. That seems to be the pattern in most of our time together. Most of it now ends in some form of sex.

Yes, the sex is good, but I want more of a relationship attached to it. At times we felt more like fuck buddies than a couple, but hey, my sex life is experiencing an all-time high.

That’s why I spend so much time talking with Graham. He seems interested in knowing me more than my body, though I do not doubt he wants me that way too. I can feel it every time we are in the same room. It is almost like a moth to a flame. More than once, I have thought about kissing him.

My phone vibrates again, and I quickly remove the remaining curlers from my hair.

Chapter 27

Graham

Today, Chris, Bre, and I plan to catch a movie then have dinner. It is Chris’s idea since I have been drowning myself at work when I am not talking to Paige. I decide to run home and shower quickly before picking up Bre and Chris. I am surprised to see Kat is in the kitchen making some food. She has been living in Arizona since Paige’s birthday a few weeks ago.

“Hey.” She smiles softly.

“Kat,” I offer in return before walking towards my room.

I try not to linger on the feeling of her eyes following me.

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