Page 55 of Addicted Lies

CHAPTER 25

Billie

Idon’t look for him again. Fuck Ford and his assholery.

I want to leave, but if I take off too soon, it’ll be suspicious. And besides, Matthew is entertaining. At least he has that going for him. Six months ago, I didn’t think I was looking for any type of relationship; it’s why I was happy to have my secret nights with Ford. But I think I want that now. I want someone to want me and treat me the way I deserve; send me flowers, tell me how beautiful I am. And I know I can’t get that from Ford. Not only is he not that type, I don’t think he’s ever done that in his life. Or ever been in a relationship before. The red flags are blinding, and he’s a killer, for fuck’s sake. Shouldn’t that rattle me, even though I know my family is just as lethal? Don’t I want a normal life? When did that change? When did I become so attached to him?

I notice my brother, cousin, and the twins standing in a group. Something serious looks like it’s going down, but out of spite, I try not to look in their direction in case Ford thinks I’m looking for him.

“Do you have next weekend free?” Matthew asks. We’re on our third drink, and he’s told me stories about work and his family, peppering in questions about me as well. At least he isn’t showing me stupid fucking thirst traps like the last guy I went on a date with.

“It’s the weekend, so I have it off.”

“Good. Would you like to go see a movie with me?”

Ivy and Posie suddenly pretend they’re interested in something else.

He’s so different from the man I had sex with only an hour ago, the one who can’t give me anything past that. Matthew actively shows interest in more. A small pang of guilt hits my core. Am I a terrible person for fucking Ford and then organizing a date with someone else?

Then I think of what Ivy would say. She’d most likely encourage me to see both at the same time, not knowing one of the men is Ford. So, I throw caution to the wind.

I smile at him. “Like a date?”

“Sure. We can go to dinner afterward as well.”

“Yes, that would be nice. But I don’t do horror movies; my life is already a shit show,” I tell him.

Ivy laughs and mumbles, “Isn’t that the truth.”

Dutton joins us, and Posie puts her drink down, concern marring her expression. “Everything okay?”

I ignore whatever Matthew is saying because whatever is happening seems pretty serious.

Posie nods at something Dutton says, and then she smiles at me and Ivy. “Ready?”

I look over to Ivy, who nods, agreeing that she’s ready to go home too. We could stay if we wanted, but I’m more than happy to leave. Tonight has been eventful, to say the least.

“If you need a ride, I can take you home,” Matthew offers. A guttural noise escapes my brother, and I shoot him a glare.

“It’s fine; she’s coming with us,” Dutton says pointedly. I can tell Matthew is trying not to smirk. He’s not a killer, but he might be ballsy enough to survive a few nights with Dutton and his crew. I can only imagine Dutton’s reaction if he were here only a few minutes before to hear us organizing a date.

Matthew’s agreeable, however, giving a curt and respectful nod to Dutton.

Eli, Jewel, Hawke, and Ford make their way to the exit, and it infuriates me that Ford doesn’t look my way. I know I was the one who ended things, but I want…

I cut that thought off. I can’t keep going around in circles with this shit.

I’ve made up my mind, and I have to stick to it.

It was only ever sex.

Matthew hands me a card and leans over to whisper in my ear, “Text me. We’ll sort details out for tomorrow.”

He pulls back, and I can feel the fire at my back as my brother is basically being held back by Posie. I’d consider it comical if I didn’t wish he would have this glimmer of restraint around a different man.

But I smile at Matthew and tell him I can’t wait.

I need to move on from my fixation. Perhaps Ford’s use of the term “addiction” is the right word.

---