Page 65 of Addicted Lies

“Does this have something to do with Ford?” she whispers.

My head snaps in her direction.

“No.” My voice rises a fraction, and her expression softens.

“Have you two continued seeing each other?”

Posie and I never spoke about what she saw that night at my parents’ house. I still can’t help being on high alert in my brother’s home, even when he’s not here.

“No, we stopped,” I confess.

She nods, and I can tell she’s torn as to whether she should ask more about it but yet she doesn’t want to know the incriminating details. Besides, there’s nothing more to tell.

“I’ll think about asking Matthew to come to the party with me,” I tell her with a smile as I stand to leave. “Maybe I need to throw him to the wolves and hope for the best.”

The front door opens, and Dutton enters with Eli, Ford, and Hawke closely behind him. I freeze as if I’ve been caught doing something wrong.

Dutton walks over to us, giving me a hug and kiss on the cheek before moving on to Posie, kissing her on the lips. “You heading off?” he asks me, and I try my hardest not to make eye contact with the others. I haven’t seen or heard from Ford since the night I went out with Matthew, and I just can’t face him.

“Yep. Starting a new project tomorrow at work, so don’t want to be out too late.”

“Billie is thinking about bringing a date to your mother’s birthday,” Posie says to Eli.

“Date?” Dutton snaps to attention. “Over my dead body. Who is this fucker, so we can dismantle him?”

“Calm down. Seriously,” Posie warns him. “You already know him. It’s Matthew. Their date went well the other night.”

Dutton’s jaw clenches as he asks, “Did he touch you?”

“Oh my God.” I roll my eyes. “You’ll be crazed to know there was hand holding.”

“Don’t tease the man too much. He looks like he’s going to blow an artery,” Eli says, far too amused by the situation.

I sigh. “I haven’t asked him yet, but I might.”

“And we’re okay with that, aren’t we, Dutton?” Posie asks, staring pointedly at her fiancé.

His jaw tics, and he looks like he’s choking on his own words as he grits out, “Yes.”

I hold in my laughter because I know he’s trying his hardest. My brother is anything but normal, but it’s nice to see the subtle changes in him due to Posie’s influence.

“Do you need a lift home?” Eli asks.

“Nah, I was just going to catch the subway,” I tell him.

“Over my dead body,” Dutton growls. “You don’t take your safety seriously enough.”

“I’ll take you,” Ford cuts in. It’s the first time I glance in the direction of the twins. Hawke raises an eyebrow, then just walks to the kitchen, most likely to steal food.

“It’s fine,” I tell him.

“You’re going with him,” Dutton demands.

“Anyone thought to ask me since I’m his boss?” Eli interrupts, but he nods his permission to Ford anyway.

Posie is biting her bottom lip, most likely because she thinks there’s more going on with Ford and me than what I expressed. I try to harden my resolve, reminding myself that Ford and I were just too warm bodies looking to fill each other’s beds. The conversation with him the other night doesn’t change anything. The bracelet doesn’t change anything. I can’t let whatever this thing between us was devour my every thought and interfere with my life. It’s pathetic.

“Let’s go,” Ford commands, then walks straight back out the door.

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