Page 12 of King of the Unsightly

I didn’t look away from the cup again. “I’ll think about it, okay?” I lied.

“Good, at least you still have some brains left in there. And you know you can stay as long as you want. The guest room has a change of clothes, and you can get cleaned up after this.” Lucien patted my shoulder.

“Babe, come back to bed,” a sleepy voice called out from his bedroom door.

Feigning Ignorance

Apetite woman with long, dirty blonde hair in burnt-orange shorts and a baggy gray shirt stepped out of the doorway. She was tiny compared to me, like I could fit her into my back pocket or the palm of my hand. Lucien had a type, and she fit it to a T.

She yawned and rubbed her eyes as she glided toward us, unaware I sat right next to Lucien.

“Oh.” The woman peered at me, tipping her head. “Hi, I’m Lynne. You must be ... Addy?”

She grinned, but it faded quickly the closer she got.

She probably noticed my strange appearance. It didn’t take a genius to figure out I went through some shit tonight, but no way would I let some stranger take pity on me.

So I summoned my best customer service voice and softened my expression like nothing happened, like I hadn’t walked twenty miles to get here. “Yes. It’s lovely to meet you. Although, Iwish it was under better circumstances,” I laughed, smiling until my cheeks stung.

I gave Lucien a quick what-the-hell look. He never said anything about dating a new girl, and now I felt like an ass for showing up. I thought we told each other everything.

Ah, I was being petty.

Lucien finally opened his mouth and closed it again like he couldn’t muster up the right words.

I gripped my cup tighter and ignored the fact he lied to me. A minuscule lie compared to everything else. So I let the hot chocolate warm me from my fingertips to my stomach with each sip. I almost felt normal—almost. I still carried a gnawing emptiness, but at least the liquid calmed my nerves.

Lucien spoke in a hushed tone like I wouldn’t hear him. “Yeah, my little sister might be living here. I told you during dinner, I believe.” He turned his body to face her and avoided me.

I almost sprayed his kitchen table with hot chocolate as the words “little sister” left his lips.

Confused, I whipped my head to the side and attempted to get his attention, but he had an unwavering focus on her.

Lucien gave Lynne a side smirk revealing his dimpled cheek and she blushed.

Sly bastard. I knew that look. I had witnessed it countless times before. He was feigning ignorance like he could charm his way out of it. And Lynne ate up his lies like they were a four-course meal.

I cringed and wrinkled my nose at his gross display.

“Of course.” Lynne beamed and spun back to me. She twirled the side of her baggy shirt in her hand and grabbed my shoulderwith her other, pressing her nails down before she resumed. “I would love it if we could get to know each other, but it seems like you have some things to discuss, and I have work in the morning. So I’ll leave you guys alone. It was nice meeting you, Addy.”

She glided over to Lucien’s side, cupped his cheeks in her hands, and kissed him, deeply. They smiled at each other through locked lips, and she mumbled a sweetgood nightunder her breath.

Lynne leaned back and waved goodbye with a cheerful face. I felt like I had to return it.

She came in and out like a ray of sunshine, and if I were to compare myself again, I was more like a violent storm striking thunder at random.

I didn’t utter a word as I watched her disappear into Lucien’s room.

After the door clicked shut, I turned to Lucien and whisper-screamed, “Little sister? Little sister? I know you didn’t just refer to me as a nun.” I shook my head in disapproval.

How long had they been dating? Why didn’t he tell me? Why lie? A similar tinge of pain burrowed its way into my chest, and I didn’t know what to make of it.

“There’s the Addy I know.” Lucien smiled his dumb, smug smile, and his stupid dimple sprung out. “And you can’t say shit. Unless you can tell me word for word what happened to you tonight?” He lowered his eyebrow, waiting for a response.

Now, I couldn’t find the right words. I gaped at him about to speak but all my words eluded me.

I couldn’t tell him the truth.

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