Page 76 of Under the Lies

“Not if you don’t like human interaction.”

Thea shakes her head. “You’re an odd one, Sayer Brooks.”

I’ve been called a lot of things in my life—timid, mute, goodie goodie—but never odd. The word rolls over in my head.

Odd. Different. Unique.

I don’t hate it.

Walking away from Thea, I head for the kitchen. She follows close behind, perching herself on the counter, watching silently as I sift through Noah’s wine collection, the one I’ve been making an impressive dent in.

The man has quite the extensive selection. And someone might as well appreciate it.

“You don’t want a glass?” Thea watches with her dark brown eyes as I bring the open bottle to my lips after uncorking it.

“Nope.” I pop the P for dramatic flair. There’s a chance I already drank a bottle before she showed up, before starting my paper. “And I won’t have you judge me for it.”

She holds up her palms. “No judgment here. Just curiosity. Didn’t your mother teach you class?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Oh yes, she did. She’d have a heart attack if she could see me now.” I jump on the counter opposite of her, extending the bottle. “Do you want some?” Because drinking alone isn’t fun and kind of sad. I’m tired of being sad. I’m tired of a lot of things.

Thea shakes her head. Pulling out a pink, rhinestone flask. “I prefer the hard stuff.” She cheers me before taking a sip.

“How are you really doing here?” she asks, lowering it to her lap.

Again, maybe it’s the wine or the lack of human interaction lately, but I find myself spilling probably more than I should to her. But even with the threat of her running back to tell Noah my words verbatim, it doesn’t stop me from being honest.

“I hate this. I hate him,” I say softly, looking down at my bottle. I hate that he has me at war with my feelings.

“Has he been cruel?”

I shake my head. “He hasn’t been around to be cruel.”

She’s quiet, gathering her thoughts. “Do you want him to be?”

“Do I want him to be what?” I look at her. “Cruel?”

“Around.”

I shrug. “Not particularly.”

Wow, that lie doesn’t even sound believable to me.

And one Thea sees through with no problem. “Bullshit.”

I shrug again, not bothering to argue. “It’s not like I can do anything to make him come back here.”

“You’d be surprised what Noah would do for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” She takes a hit from her flask, her eyes wide like she’s said too much. But before I can demand an answer, Thea changes the subject. Kind of. “So you want Noah around more and I know exactly how to drag his brooding ass here.”

“Let me guess.” I eye her warily, “With a party?”

She nods. “With a party.”

I look around Noah’s apartment, at my things scattered about. Clearly that hasn’t been working, but with a party…Noah wouldn’t stay away for that. It’s two of his least favorite things combined. People in his apartment and cluttered disarray.

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