Page 10 of The Lies You Love
Half of me wonders what we’ll have in common if one of us gets a boyfriend. She moved into the apartment building next door and didn’t know a soul. I ran into her outside of my building, and she asked me flat out if I wanted to be her friend. When we realized we were both in the same phase of life—the starting-over phase, we bonded over our love for meaningless sex. Ramsey’s parents died in a riot, she said, and with her inheritance, she’s just trying to live her best life. I support that.
“You’re right,” she breathes, her French accent making an appearance. “But call him,” she hisses back. “Promise me.”
Walking to the back room, I pick up an empty burger wrapper from who knows how long ago and press the button on the coffee machine to make a cup. “I’ll call him.”
Maybe half true, I think. I don’t have the courage to damage the perfect vision of our night. Some men are assholes in the light of day. It’s why I always refuse to spend the night. I tell Ramsey I’m at the store, and she lets me know she has errands to run. It’s probably code for another booty call, but I’d never judge her too harshly.
“Good,” she says. “Let’s grab a late lunch together then.” We decide on a place and say goodbye.
I’m blowing the top of my mug when I hear the chime alerting me to a customer. I hurry from the back, anticipating an eager person hoping to score new pet goodies, but find Beckett instead. His wide back is turned away from me as he inspects something in the storefront window display. My heart sinks when I see it’s the same necklace I wore last night. It is made of thick plastic with adorable hand-painted beads. He spins, holding one of the necklaces from the display, and reaches into his pocket with his other hand. He pulls out the plastic cardinal charm I left on his windowsill before I left. I’m not sure why I left it. A token of our night, I guess, but never did I think the man would put two and two together. He doesn’t have an animal. I didn’t think he would even know my store existed.
“Annie,” he says, voice low, demanding, and questioning. “Is it?”
How does he know that’s not my name? Why is he in my store looking good enough to eat when I didn’t decide if this is what’s best for me? “Beck, hi, uh, how did you find me?”
He holds up the bird and the necklace. “I recognized it. I saw it when I was walking down this way after a business meeting last week. I’d never seen anything like this before. It caught my eye when I saw it dangling from those lighted branches upfront. My sister’s favorite bird is a cardinal.”
“You didn’t recognize it last night around my neck? I was wearing it, and well, I’m sure you saw when it broke.”
I collected all of the pieces after the string broke and put them in my purse. The little red bird was on the floor by the window when I made my escape this morning, so I picked it up and set it on the windowsill.
He swallows hard. “Yeah, part of the night is hazy, but I definitely remember breaking the necklace with my cock. I guess I didn’t put two and two together because I was distracted.”
I blush furiously. If I could turn into a bird and fly away, I would. I’d never come back. “Well, I just, you could have called. You have my number in your phone.”
“Listen, you up and left without so much as a goodbye. You left a plastic bird. Last night could have been a whole fucking dream because it was so great, but I woke up alone and wasn’t sure of anything. I wanted to see if it was the same necklace for myself.”
“You thought last night was great?” I brighten and can barely help the smirk that I know is on my face.
He looks at me like I’m crazy. “Were you, or were you not in the same room as me last night?” Beck looks at the wall closest to him and then back at me, “Auden.” He backs away, face ashen like he’s finally figuring out how awful I actually am. There’s a huge wooden photo canvas of me hugging a dog, my name and the date I opened the store are on a placard beneath it. “Why did you tell me your name was Annie?”
I open my mouth to lie and then close it. “Because I never thought I’d see you again. There’s the truth. Names don’t matter when it’s just fucking.” I meet his eyes, and it’s a mistake. My stomach flips and my heart races. X-rated images float through my mind after I finish my sentence.
“It was just fucking then,” he replies, wide jaw working side to side, hands fisted by his side.
No. No, it wasn’t. “Yes. You knew that. One night.”
He tosses the necklace on the counter. “Here’s a tip, Auden, if you ever want a man to want you for more than fucking, you should be honest with them. At the very least, give them your name. It’s a real fucking turnoff.” Beck turns and walks to the door.
“We don’t know each other!” I argue. “It’s just a name!”
He offers a devil may care smirk. “At least when you were fucking my face, you were calling out my real name when you came.”
That stops me in my tracks. “I’m sorry.”
“So am I. We really could have had something.”
I think about what Ramsey said and flail. “Wait!” I rush from behind the desk and trip over the box I was unpacking. “Wait,” I say again, steadying myself. “I really am sorry.” When I’m this close, his scent eviscerates any hesitations. I tuck my hair behind my ear and try to breathe normally. “I don’t do this. The after. I don’t do it very well.” I chance a glance up at him. “I don’t do it at all, actually.”
He folds his arms and looks away, but not before letting his gaze roam over my body, undressing me with his eyes. The sensuality of the small motion makes me shiver. How am I supposed to get through a conversation with him when he looks like sex on legs? “Well, you do a lot of other things well,” Beck deadpans. A lot, he mouths, silently raising both eyebrows.
I close my eyes. “Thanks, I think. I’m Auden,” I say, voice trembling. “Why don’t we start over? This is my store.” I wave an arm out to the side.
“If you never do this,” he says, motioning between our bodies. “Why start now?”
“Because you’re right,” I counter. “We could have something. Last night wasn’t normal for a lot of reasons, but it’s because it wasn’t normal that I think we should start over.”
“In broad daylight?” he asks, though I can tell there’s hesitation. “Not hidden under the cover of darkness?”
