Page 45 of Mister Stark

“I came home early.” Paisley replied as she pulled back and pinched my cheeks. “I couldn’t be away from my best friend for too long.”

I giggled and pushed her hands away. “Well, I’m glad you’re here.”

“I thought you stayed the night in Paisley’s hotel room?” Dylan asked with suspicion and pulled off his tie.

“She did?” Paisley wondered with curiosity.

Oh, crap...

It was time for a secret. Let the lies continue. Time for damage control.

“Well, I did, but Paisley wasn’t there.” I lied as I waved my hand like it was no big deal. “It was easy to snag a key card from the front desk and get into her room for the night.”

“Hm, I’ll have to remember that next time I go.” Dylan said as his voice traveled down the hallway and he headed for the bathroom. “I should try sneaking into my dad’s expensive presidential suite.”

I let out a fake laugh as I heard the shower turn on and took a deep breath. I dodged a bullet when he bought the story. He could never find out about the affair. He could never know I slept with his father.

I turned towards Paisley, and she had her lips pressed together in thought. “What?”

She tapped her chin and clicked her tongue off the roof of her mouth. “You’re lying, but the question is why?”

“Would you keep your voice down...” I mumbled as I pulled her closer and whispered in her ear. “What does it matter if I am? A little lie hurt no one.”

“It does, if you spent the night with someone else?” Paisley hinted as she raised her eyebrows and waited for me to cave. “I never got asked to give back a second key card. I know you were never in my room, Celeste. So, the real question is, where were you?”

She wouldn’t let up and I knew it. I had to give her something. I had to tell her the truth, but I didn’t have to tell her all of it. No one was ready for it and I wasn't sure if I’d ever be. The truth made what I did with Dylan’s father even more real.

“Okay, but you have to promise not to speak a word.” I breathed and hoped this worked.

“Your secrets are always safe with me.” Paisley beamed and took my hands in hers. “Now, out with it.”

“Dylan and I got into a fight. I got drunk at the hotel bar and Dylan’s father showed up. He saved me from an asshole trying to take me back to his room because of the state I was in. It was stupid and I never should’ve gotten that drunk.” I sighed with frustration at myself and the situation, but continued with the actual truth kept concealed. “I was in no state to go back to Dylan after our fight, and I stayed with his father instead.”

Paisley’s eyes went wide with her mouth agape. “And what happened?”

“Nothing. I slept in his bed and he slept in the other room.” I replied with a half-truth. There was more, but I couldn’t let the entire story out. “That’s it. I woke up around noon and he was gone back to the city.”

She clamped her mouth shut and eyed me suspiciously. Her bright blue eyes squinted at me and searched my face for a truth she couldn’t find. She was my best friend and knew it was there. I held my composure and didn’t back down. She wasn’t getting the truth from me today, and I didn’t know if she ever would.

She chewed her bottom lip, let go of my hands and shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, if that’s what happened, I believe you. But if the story just so happens to magically change, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“What story?” Dylan asked as he came down the hall and dried his hair with a white towel.

He was shirtless with his pants on and it reminded me of him in bed with another man. The white towel reminded me of the white bed sheet wrapped around his torso and he followed me with fear on his face. The fear of me exposing the truth about him and his lover. He couldn't have all the problems and troubles. But we wouldn’t even be here if he could’ve just kept it in his pants.

“Oh, just the story of Nicholas and our magical night together.” Paisley answered with ease and backed up my story. “But unfortunately, that’s all it will ever be. One night of bliss.”

“I remember those nights.” Dylan said as his eyes shot towards mine and he flashed me a smile.

I flashed back the same smile, but it was all fake. Fake happiness all for Paisley and it would help her not question me further. But I knew he remembered his lover and not me.

“Aren’t you two lovebirds so cute?” Paisley beamed as she looked from Dylan to me and I knew it was a coverup, but went along with it.

I went over towards Dylan, smiled up at him, and pecked his cheek. “You hear that, darling? We’re just so cute.”

He gave a small smile, but looked down at his phone that dinged. The screen lit up when he pushed the button. He read the message and looked at me. “Dad invited us all for dinner this evening at the Lint Liquor. It’s perfect timing to celebrate our successful business deal. I’m famished. Aren’t you famished, sweetie?”

“Absolutely starving, darling.” I replied as we went our separate ways and I headed for my walk-in closet.

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