Page 22 of Promiscuous Lies

“Has that perhaps made you curious about marriage?” he asks, following me to the front counter.

My jaw tics. For the last two years, my parents have become quite vocal with their concerns regarding my lack of bringing any partner home. But it’s because I’ve never had a partner… Well, one that wasn’t only sexual.

I’m certain their main concern is whether I’m a heartless psychopath. My mother got it into her head that I need someonefull of sunshine and rainbows to balance my distant personality. In other ways that they’ve explained, they’re concerned that I only ever focus on my career, but I don’t understand what having a wife does to resolve that. Just because the two of them were fortunate to find love and joy, it was not something I actively looked for myself. Because I am far from a ray of fucking sunshine.

If that made me appear a recluse, then so be it.

“Not in the least,” I say, snagging the black ribbon handle of the bag containing the lingerie piece I most like.

“It might?—”

“No.” I’m adamant as I square up with my father. “Just because you and Mom found a serene, happily-ever-after marriage does not mean I want or need the same thing. Marriage is a liability. Why would I bother building everything I have to give someone the opportunity to take it? To give someone access toourfamily? It’s not worth the risk.”

“Son, you say it’s to protect your family, but the only one you’re trying to protect is yourself.”

“Of the matters of the heart?” I scoff. “Mom’s already used that line. If you want grandchildren, it won’t be from me,” I say as I turn to walk away.

My father calls out, “Well, we aren’t going to get them from your sister either if you keep intervening.”

I smirk at that because I know he’s not at all upset about it.

It’s the same thing every time: their sudden fixation on me being “cold and twisted” to use Billie’s words.

I understand it, theoretically.

I’m too calculated to be reckless.

So why have they been pushing this issue so fucking much lately?

Am I not the definition of the perfect son?

CHAPTER 12

Posie

I’m dreading going to work today because I might see him. I find this funny because I went months without even running into him, and now I can’t seem to escape him. I don’t know if there is another reason why he’s been around more often recently, but I wish it would go back to normal.

Whatever normal is?

I’m actually on time for once, and when Paula sees me, she looks at her watch in shock but then smiles. She follows me into the back room, where I start to get changed.

“You have a present,” Paula says, revealing a black bag. I immediately know from the emblem what store it came from, and I’m slightly confused as to why she’s giving this to me.

“Why am I getting this?” I ask, my brows pinching in wonder.

She begins to walk away but looks over her shoulder with a mischievous grin. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the boss himself.”

I pull a box out of the bag. Opening it, I tear away the tissue paper to find a set of hot-pink lingerie.

It’s beautiful.

Expensive.

But no gift comes without strings attached.

Especially from a man who is used to owning everything and everyone.

Turning to Samantha, I smile and hand her the box.

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