Page 109 of Destined To Fall

“I didn’t mean it to come out like that. I guess I’m still pissy about the bomb you dropped on me out of nowhere.”

“Pissy? What the hell do you have to be pissy about?” He grabs my arm, stopping me from getting in the elevator.“I’m the one you walked out on, twice, after I told you something I’ve never told anyone.”

“I know! But how did you expect me to react? You’ve been lying to me this whole time.”

“I’ve never lied to you.”

“Omitting is the same thing, Mr. Kettle.” That makes him grin for a second before it falls and he’s somber again.“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Probably for this reason.” I don’t know how to respond to that, so I say nothing.“How do you tell a…a…”

“Whore?”

“A sex maniac,”—this makes me laugh hard—”that you’re a grown-ass man and have never had intercourse?” My nose wrinkles at his choice of words, making him laugh.“I’m not a saint, Vivienne. I’ve had other kinds of sex.”

And I’m right back at the club.Fuck.

“That hardly un-saints you, Jer. But this is all moot. It’s late, I’m exhausted, and we don’t do this anymore, remember?”

“You can’t end a friendship because you’re mad. It doesn’t work like that.”

“The hell it doesn’t. It takes two to tango, smartass.”

“We’re not dancing.”

“Ughhhhh.”

I storm off, blessedly finding the elevator waiting. I hurry in and bash the close button repeatedly, willing the doors to shut before Jeremy strolls in. But fate or whatever is against me, and I’m slapped with déjà vu when his arm slips between the doors, making them ping open.

“Can’t you take a hint? Go away!”

“No. I said I’m not leaving until we talk.”

“Fine. You have until the elevator opens. Talk fast.”

“You’re still working with my father? Have you been working with him this whole time?”

I say nothing, and he glowers.

“What exactly has my father been asking about us?”

“Like I told him, and like I’ve told you, there is no us.”

“So, what, I just came up in pillow talk?”

“What?”

“You know, after sex. Pillow talk.” He says it so casually, like that’s going to trip me up and make me spill all.

“Pillow talk? Really? Jesus.”

“Just answer the question.”

“I haven’t told him a fucking thing. There is nothing to tell, for fuck’s sake, and do not continue with that train of thought, Jeremy. You know where it leads.”

The elevator stops and the doors open, but before I step out, I press the lobby button. Yet,of course Jeremy dismisses this and follows me out.

“I need answers, Viv.”

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