Page 118 of The Liar's Reckoning

At least I’m not the only one. “Where areyou?” I ask.

“Chelsea. Are you coming back soon? I need to talk this out.”

“I’m supposed to have lunch…”

“Yeah, I get it.”

“I can get out of it.”

“No—”

“Graham, I’m coming. I’ll see you as soon as the train’ll get me there.”

“Okay. Thank you, Silas.”

“I love you,” I remind him. He doesn’t have to thank me.

“I love you, too.”

I hang up and take a few deep breaths while I try to game this turn of events out in my head.

Avery’s known Graham has a lover for almost two years. Granted, when she first found out, she was pregnant, and that turned out…the way it turned out. They haven’t had sex since, and it’s probably not as easy for her to carry on an affair as it’s been for him and me. People are probably waiting for her to fuck up as often as she goes out without her husband.

Still, I have a bad feeling about this. It’s a blindside, and I don’t do well with those. Stepping back into the house, Drew looks up at me and scowls. “Lemme guess. Something came up.”

“Sorry,” I tell them both.

“You’re not still…no… You couldn’t be. Right?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What?”

“What do you see in him?”

The question is sincere, I guess. Concerned, even. But I don’t like it, nor do I have the time or inclination to justify my choices to a man who advertises body spray and decided on a whim he likes cockwhile he had a girlfriend, might I add. What’s more ridiculous is they’re still friends, which is great for Drew and Jericho, but I’m still too busy for friends.

Mom is in worse shape than ever, Trixie’s not coping well, so I’m in Queens whenever Graham is out of town, and I’m still juggling three jobs.

I gesture at Olivier. “What do you see in him?”

“Hey,” he warns, standing up.

“It’s a stupid question, Drew, and it’s rude to ask.Thatwas my point.”

“It’s rude to ask when he’s standing in the room,” Drew argues, “But I’ve never met the guy.”

“And you won’t,” I say. “Not with that attitude.”

“Dude, I’m just trying to talk to you.”

“And I’m telling you I need to go.”

“What if you bring him to the Hamptons? It’s really private,” Olivier says. He’s actually pretty cool in person. Before he was with Drew, his wild antics were the talk of the Upper East Side. He makes me think of Graham in a way. How his public persona completely contradicts who he is in private.

I shake my head. “No way in hell. No offense. Look, I apologize about lunch, but I gotta go. Something really has come up.”

Drew groans. “Sy. Jesus.”

“Nice place,” I tell them again. “Thanks for having me over. I’m happy for you.” Then, with a sharp look at Drew, I add, “You should try it sometime.”

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