Page 27 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

I couldn’t hang out with them longer than twelve minutes. They left once my break was over. I was the only one behind the counter. Jules had stepped out for a cigarette, and Kate was on a bathroom break. I didn’t mind. Anything to get my mind off Ryan tied up in my closet.

I was getting bored of taking orders and serving food. The door opened and I looked up, ready to welcome the next customer, but it was Grey. I wanted to run and hide, but he’d already seen me.

“Hey, Chlo.” He waved, walking to where I was.

“Hi, Grey.”

Grey and I had not been that close since the incident with the Sanchesters. After what happened and when Vina and I got our apartment, he tried to get back together with me. He tried convincing me to move in with him, but I refused. He always came around, and I avoided him. I kept pushing him away until he gave up on trying and gave me some space.

After I had gotten back from Cuba, we didn’t speak to each other for months until the day he came to see Vina on her birthday. He’d introduced us to Gabby, his girlfriend.

“How have you been? I haven’t seen you in weeks.” He took the seat in front of me.

“Busy. I’m sure Vina already told you I lost my other job.” I tried to sound sad, but it didn’t come out the way I’d wanted it to. I hated that job.

“No, she didn’t.”

“Ohh. Well, now, you know.”

“I will have a chocolate milkshake, please,” he ordered.

“What happened?” he asked me when I returned with his milkshake.

I explained everything to him, but he just ended up laughing.

“I think it’s a good thing you got fired. You don’t belong there.”

“Should I be offended?” I asked, and he shrugged. “How is Gabby?”

“She is good.”

The look on his face changed. He looked annoyed at my question. The atmosphere around us was always awkward every time I brought her up. I opened my mouth to ask something else, but his phone rang, making me press my lips together.

“It’s Gabby. I have to pick her up. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. Thanks for stopping by. Tell Gabby I say hi.”

He smiled. “Bye, Chlo.”

“Bye,” I whispered.

***

It was past eleven when I finished cleaning up. I took out the trash and locked the doors to the diner.

I strolled down the street. The smile on my face fell when I remembered I had to feed Ryan when I got home. I checked the time.

“Shit!”

Vina would be home by now. I cursed under my breath again as I started walking faster.

A blinding light from the car driving toward me made me stop. My eyes squinted at the intensity of the light. I used one hand to block out the light from destroying my eyesight. The car stopped beside me, the lights went off, and the driver’s door opened.

I gave Tristan a hard look as he came out of the car. I sighed and turned to walk away, but he gripped my arm and pulled me toward him. He held me against the car like he was scared I would try to run away.

I gasped from the movement. I stared at him. He looked furious, like he wanted to rip me apart. His sharp jawline clenched, and his nostrils flared.

“What the hell, Tristan?!”

---