Page 2 of We're All Liars

“I’m sure he’ll come around. It’s a lot. Seeing the woman who abandoned him.”

She flinches at the statement, and she should. That’s what she did, so there’s no point in sugarcoating it. “But if you want to run away again. I wouldn’t blame you.” Whether she stays or goes works to my benefit. Merely having Kelly show her face was enough for him to hate me even more. Damage is done even if she bails again, which could cause more destruction on its own.

I don’t stay and bother with the little reunion she’s tried to have with me a few times. Yeah. I kept in contact. But we’re not going to be bonding any more than I have with my own mother. If anything, the two of them should get together and discuss their dismal parenting decisions.

Just before I’m about to enter the banquet room again, I hear Neil behind me. “Morgan, wait.”

Rotating to face him, I wait for him to speak. He just stands and stares at me until I ask, “What?”

“I don’t understand why you would do that to Cade. I know you care about him.”

A laugh escapes as I step to the chump who’s trying to switch up the game. Won’t work. He can’t play savior and surely can’t stop me or make me feel an ounce of remorse for any of this shit. “I did it to hurt him. He knew what he was getting into from the start. I never pretended to be anything other than who I am, unlike him. So, fuck off. Or you’ll be my next venture.”

He keeps an uneasy watch on me as he takes a step back. “You do care about him. That’s why it hurts so bad to think he betrayed you. But he didn’t. He has a lot of shit he’s dealing with that you don’t know about. We all do.”

I’m not sure if it’s the fact that the kid has some balls to say that to me or the fact that he gets a pass for offing Lenny. But either way, I detour from my usual and decide not to teach him a lesson and I just simply stay silent as Neil walks away.

Nerd boy really is pushing his luck though. But he’s just a minuscule bother at the moment. Plus, Cade and my father are the only ones I enjoy hurting.

Someone else decides to push his luck. TheWhat the fuck was that, Morgan?expression on Ryder’s face is clear before he asks me, “What the fuck were you thinking?”

“A happy reunion for our star quarterback,” I tell my brother as I step past him and enter the banquet room. The fundraiser is still running smoothly with Ava at the helm. She actually wants to do this; I don’t need to be here. There’s nothing else left to screw up.

And it doesn’t look like Ryder is going to let up. “Morgan, I know something happened between the two of you. What was it? Because you were on the track to being less of a bitch. Like, you actually looked happy with Cade when we were hanging out at the Lakefront. What happened?”

Ugh. I really don’t want to have this conversation. Heading out of the event, I’m walking down the corridor as Ryder shifts in front of me. So, I lie. “Nothing happened.” Nothing new anyways. Except reality. Cade got his panties in a twist and reminded me of something I’d started to forget. We’re all liars, only I’d started to half-believe his bullshit.

The repulsion rising makes me want to do something else to hurt Cade. But the mom card was the move I had for tonight. I didn’t even have to utilize my bartender backup option in case Kelly flaked out. And it’s the moment I realize Ashton trailed me out to the parking lot, still following me around like the gullible fool he is.

“Do you want to go grab a bite?” he asks as I continue walking. “I noticed you didn’t sit down long enough to eat.”

I’m next to my car before I turn to look at him. On the exterior, he’s fuckable and not half-bad to look at. The black suit he decided to don reminds me of Bruce Wayne and fits Ashton’s form perfectly, his blond hair and blue eyes picture-perfect—a complete contrast to Cade’s dark hair and eyes.

Reaching forward, I grab the lapels of his jacket and bring his mouth to mine. He immediately obeys and kisses me back. His hands are on my back, pulling me against him. And when I feel his hard dick against my stomach, it turns my desire level even lower. Because all I can think about is the last time he fucked me on the bar of this wretched country club. The location was the most thrilling aspect. Because he—and the way he fucked me—wasn’t satisfying in the least. And that’s why Cade’s abilities, specifically with his tongue and dick, are front and center in my mind.

Attempting to push the asshole out of my mind, I focus on the fuckstick in front of me. And even when I tell myself this will be enough. I know it’s not. And when Ashton’s palm slides into the slit of my dress, it’s confirmed. His touch moves up my thigh and sends my aversion and boredom into overdrive.

“Fuck,” I groan out as I reach up, and shove my hands against his chest to get the waste of space off of me.

He looks dazed as hell as he asks, “What is it?” Stepping back to me, his hands land on my hips, eyes searching mine. “Did I do something? I thought you were enjoying yourself.” There’s a slight smirk rising on his lips. Guys really can be dumb fucks.

“No. I wasn’t. And this just reminded me how much I didn’t enjoy myself the last time.” I move to open my car door, but Ashton steps forward. His body presses against mine and pushes me back against my car, blocking my way.

There’s no humor or playfulness in his eyes. Only annoyance. “You’re such a fucking tease, Morgan. One day, someone is going to put you in your place. Might even be me.”

There’s no part of me that’s fearful. Zero. Zilch. This clown isn’t even a blip on my radar. After being defenseless and tormented by Lenny, I doubt there’s any threat that would truly frighten me. I escaped that. I can handle anything. “Try your best. But before you do, ask the last motherfucker who thought he could overpower me how that worked out for him.”

Ashton fixes me with a challenging expression as I stay pressed into him, not making a move to back down or free myself from what he believes is an intimidating stance. Yeah, my car is blocking me from behind, and the ignorant motherfucker is blocking me from stepping forward, but I will get out of this position whenever I choose. But I won’t let him think he’s scaring me by trying to run.

Shifting closer to him, I move my face in his. “I’m waiting.”

He loses the standoff and takes a step back. “You know I can’t hurt you. I’d lose my job. And unlike your pampered ass, I need my job. So just stay the hell away from me, Morgan.” Turning, he begins to walk away before he looks back at me. “But it’s true. One day you’re going to screw over the wrong person.”

“I’m counting on it.” No matter, though. I’ll put that motherfucker down too.

3

CADE

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