Page 44 of Filthy Little Secret

I’d ask her not to go through with it, but this is just one of many similar performances. I thought I’d get used to them after a while, but I never do.

The door opens and Kendra Blake enters.

Kendra is Greg’s mother—the link that will always tie me to Greg. She’s Mom’s attorney, and how Greg and I met initially three years ago. It started as a crush. I was a senior in high school and he was a freshman at Emory, majoring in computer science. He was great with computers but sucked with science. Needed some help with his chemistry homework, and I was eager for an opportunity to win him over, which I did.

The connection between our mothers hasn’t been too much of an issue since we broke up because I only see them occasionally, but I’ve been dreading this particular event because I knew she would be coming.

My greatest fear is realized when Greg steps through the door, entering behind her.

I still see him around school all the time, but I manage to avoid him. He hasn’t tried to approach me since that day he showed up at my apartment uninvited.

Now here we are, stuck in the same room.

He chats up Kendra and Mom before he meanders over and offers a friendly, “Hey, man.”

His expression is filled with guilt, as it fucking should be.

“Hey,” I say, and even though I’m trying to sound harsh, I can tell that fucking around with Tim has helped me heal because confronting him now is easier than it used to be. Also helps knowing he and Morgan are having issues right now.

Since this is Mom’s night, I’ll be cordial.

“How’ve you been?” he asks. “Haven’t seen you around the usual places.”

“I’ve been busy. School. Work.”

Getting plowed by Tim.

He nods. “Yeah. School’s been kind of a pain recently. That web development class I’ve been taking has been kicking my ass. It’s got a fucking lab unit in it, and I pretty much spend every night coding.”

How can I look like I give fewer shits about his fucking classes?

“So,” he adds, “I guess that thing with you and you-know-who kind of just…”

“Not really any of your fucking business what happened with that.”

I use the past tense to throw him off. No reason to give him anything he can start a rumor about.

“Well, it’s good seeing you. You look like you’re doing good.”

He’s got his charm set to ten. That tone that’s so trustworthy. This façade he’s always been so good at putting on to make me think he might really be a decent person. Although, after what happened with Morgan, I know better, and he’ll never fool me again.

“I don’t know if you heard about me and Morgan?” he asks.

“I did. Sorry it didn’t work out,” I say, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

Mom checks her watch.

“Almost time, boys,” she says.

“Well, I’ve gotta get ready for the performance,” I tell Greg.

He smiles.

“Good seeing you, man.”

He heads out with Kendra.

And there’s something sad about him leaving again. Regardless of how much better I’m doing now, he’ll always be my first big heartbreak. The first time I let someone in and was truly deceived. And that hurts. It stings to my core.

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