Page 87 of As the World Falls

“No,” I rush out. “I just… don’t want them to think I’m someone I’m not. I mean…we’re not a thing, so I think it’d be easier not to explain why I’m with you.”

“Cecilia.”

“What?”

“Stop rambling and get out of the car.” He steps out of the car, walking around the front as I unbuckle my seat belt.

“Okay then,” I murmur, finding it no use to argue with him anymore because the man always gets his way. He opens my door, and I step out and begin walking up the stairs to the front door, except I feel him at my side and his hand resting on my lower back. We moved together so in sync anymore. The distance between us grows closer and closer each day that passes. I don’t even have time to register what this all means because I’m walking inside and greeted by Lance, whose gaze immediately falls onto James’s hand on my back.

“Nice of you to show up,” Lance says with a not-so-friendly tone. I was usually ten to twenty minutes early, but not today. But it’s not like I was late. I was here right at my expected time.

I step away from James and hang my jacket on the stand behind my desk. “I’m sorry. I got a late start today.”.

“Ah,” he sounds, then looks at James, who is watching him intently. “What are you, her bodyguard now?”

“Lance!” I scold as James chuckles all too happily, and it’s like a brick drops in my stomach.

“I’m not sure I qualify as one, considering I was in her bedroom instead of behind the door,” James adds cunningly.

“James!”

Lance’s wild gaze flies back to me. “He was in your bedroom?”

“Not because of what you think,” I rush out, turning to glare at James. I totally don’t think about how James was completely naked in my bedroom. It wasn’t exactly helpful right now. “I had an…accident that he came to help me with.”

“Spent the night helping her with,” James adds. “Weekend, actually.”

“Damn it, James,” I snap. I look back at Lance in a panic. “He didn’t sleep in my bed with me. We slept on the couch.”

“Together?” Lance guffaws. “Why didn’t you just call me? I could have helped you.”

“It was something only I could take care of. Right, Cecilia?” James smirks at me.

“Alright. It’s time for you to go,” I demand to James.

“That’s fine,” he smiles, looking back at Lance. “I’m satisfied for the day.”

“Out. Now,” I shout, pointing to the door.

James walks to the door but stops just before leaving, looking directly at me. “I’ll be in touch,” he promises, then he’s gone. A part of me suddenly feels sad that our weekend together is already over. However, I don’t have long to touch on the feeling because I can practically feel Lance’s anger radiating from my side.

I slowly turned and faced him again, finding his judgmental gaze roaming the length of me. I was wearing my cream sweater dress again—the one I fantasized about James lifting around mywaist in his office. But now also wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.

“What is going on, Lia? Why are you suddenly with this guy all the time?”

“I told you. He’s been helping me keep an eye on my brother.”

“I thought you quit working for him. Why is he still coming around? Why was he at your apartment all weekend?”

“It’s… it’s not something I can discuss with you,” I stammer. I couldn’t tell him exactly what happened with Hodge and the… mafia I accidentally got involved in because he’d probably lose his mind. Also, I didn’t want him involved with it whatsoever.

“Are you serious? You’re going to keep secrets from me now? I thought we didn’t do that?” he snaps.

“Why does it have to be a secret? Can’t it just be the fact that I have a personal life that you don’t need to know every second of?”

“Here we go again with you wanting a personal life that has nothing to do with me. You might as well just put me out of my misery already and tell me there’s no chance for me here.”

I suck in a breath, his words hurting more than I expected. “Lance, please. Don’t be like that.”

---