Page 26 of Nest Of Lies

I tug my top down and straighten my shoulders. We’re just going for a picnic in the park. Nothing will happen there. There are people everywhere. Nothing is going to happen. I’ll have my phone, and itwill be fine.

I’ve just managed to talk myself into a good zone and gotten my courage up, when the doorbell rings. Fear swallows up the feelings I was trying to create. Nerves explode in me, and I end up almost choking as I inhale too quickly.

Forcing myself to walk to the door takes a lot out of me, and I have to wipe my face quickly to get rid of a few beads of sweat. I pull it open and force myself to smile. It’s a sick smile, but it’s there.

The man I expected isn’t here, thankfully, and instead, a vision of Mills fills the door frame. Have I imagined him? Conjured him here? Is he my date? Oh, my god, am I being catfished? I look past him, searching for my date. I discreetly check the time on my phone. Yep, it is the right time. Is he my date?

Mills leans on the door frame, and I inhale sharply, my eyes drawn to the stretch of his top across his chest. His tattoos stretch out from under the material along his arms and his shoulders. He melts my brain. He’s so pretty. Especially when he leans in and smiles just like that. I inhale and catch the scent of black tea. It’s nice and doesn’t seem out of place, but it puzzles me.

“Hey, babe. How are you?”

I narrow my eyes. “You came over to ask me how I am?” Okay, so not my date, and I’m not being catfished. Why am I so disappointed?

“Yes.” Mills smiles even wider. “You look really pretty today, Lia.”

I feel the blush even when I curse myself for my reaction. He leans in, and I mirror him, helpless.

These men drive me out of my mind. I went crazy for them years ago, and now I’m just helplessly pining, waiting for a crumb.

“I’ve missed you,” Mills purrs.

Oh, that’s a very good crumb. My heart flutters, and I want to go sit on the couch and fan myself. “You have?”

“I have.” He stares at me, winks, and then steps back. “All right, have a good day.”

I watch him go, feeling doubly confused and annoyed. What was that about?

I step back into the house and close the door. And then I wait and wait. But my date never arrives.

It’s been three days,but I determinedly set up another date. My other one has disappeared off the face of the planet. He’s deleted his socials, deleted his profile, and he’schanged his number. I sent a few messages, but they were all returned. It seems a bit of an overreaction to blowing off a date, but what do I know?

I checked the internet, and it turns out that this is pretty common with dates these days, it’s called ghosting. So, completely normal. Advice, move on to the next date. So, I did just that, reaching out to Ryan.

I twirl in my pretty dress. It’s baby blue with white polka dots, tight at the bust and flares out at my waist.

I hear the doorbell and yank the door open, my smile fading but returning more naturally. Hell, I can feel the glow from here. I don’t know how they don’t see how pathetically I need them.

“Hi, babydoll.”

I clear my throat, looking around him, but no date.

“Ianto? What are you doing here?”

“I missed you.”

He steps towards me, pulls me into a hug that melts my mind, and then lets me go as abruptly. He steps back and slowly smiles.

“You look beautiful.”

I take a step after him, but he turns and vanishes.

I’m so confused and bemused that I don’t really notice that my date never shows.

My next date isthe following Friday, almost a week later. This time, I am determined to see it done. I’m ready early and waiting. I actually manage to see him approaching the house. With a last check in the mirror, I smooth my hands down my jeans and wait just behind the door.

This is it. I’m going on my very first date. Why do I feel so ill?

When the doorbell goes off, I open the door and find Valen grinning at me madly.

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