Page 11 of Surviving Lies

“You mentioned ‘all the kids’ when talking about your dad and back home. How many siblings do you have?” he asked as he started driving away from my place.

“Oh, gosh, it’s like a petting zoo back at my house,” I told him. “I have four younger brothers and two parents that are basically workaholics. I couldn’t wait to come to college.”

His conspiratorial smile made me think he knew exactly what I was talking about.

“You have a big family too?” I asked.

He shook his head back and forth, which wasn’t the answer I was expecting. “Nah, just me and my older brother.” And then he said nothing more.

“So, where are we headed?” I wanted to break the sudden awkward silence and return the conversation to what we were doing. Looking out the window, I noticed we’d made it onto the highway out of town. “What do you need? Are we talking essentials and food, or do you need the big-ticket items?” I leaned back against the soft leather as I rattled off my questions and tried not to moan.

“Considering I slept on an air mattress last night and only had Starbucks today, I need it all.”

“Oh wow, you really do. OK, this is going to be fun, but we won’t be able to do it all tonight. It’s already kind of late.”

“Well, I did text you quite a few hours ago, and it is almost dinner time.” He snuck a look at me, which told me he most likely knew why I hadn’t responded. “I don’t think I did my job very well last night, did I? Sorry, I think you probably had a rough morning, but we had fun yesterday. And we were the king and queen of flip cup!”

I didn’t know how to respond. The more he said, the guiltier I felt. I smiled but turned my head and found the trees speeding by on the side of the road a welcome distraction. He remained quiet for a few moments, and I felt bad, worried I’d made it uncomfortable between us already.

“So, I was thinking furniture is the priority since it will most likely need to be ordered. I should focus on that, then maybe some food. What do ya think?” He kept his eyes on the road, his tone casual. I stole a peek as he drove, his large hand on the gearshift, the muscles in his forearm pulsing as he changed gears.

“Sounds like a plan. There are a couple decent furniture stores in Haven.” It appeared that was where we were headed. “Maybe some of them have some floor models that you can buy, get it quicker.”

“Yeah, maybe.” His tone changed a bit when I said that, but I couldn’t decipher in what way.

Gage knew where he was going, pulling into a store I’d never been to, never even seen.

“Wow, this is a bit too bougie for me, that’s for sure. What type of budget are you on again?” Definitely not the typical college kid budget, but I should’ve guessed that by now. I felt he was keeping something from our conversation, that was for sure. But we didn’t know each other, so I had no right to any information about his financial situation at all.

But I was damn curious. And impressed.

Then I took notice of what he was wearing: silky black dress pants that seemed to be tailored for his body, his thick thighs pushing the bounds of the material. His crisp white button-down pulled equally tight across his chest. He wasn’t wearing a tie and had the sleeves rolled to his elbows, which I thought was why I didn’t recognize the quality of his clothes at first.

I had on sweatpants, a tank top, and flip-flops. I felt very underdressed.

“Um, you’re dressed pretty nice to go shopping, Gage. I am not. Is that going to be a problem with this place? I’ve never been here; it looks pretty fancy for a furniture store.” I smoothed out my pants with my sweaty palms, as if that would make them more appropriate. My sudden nervousness took me by surprise.

“Becca, you look beautiful. You would look beautiful in anything you wore.” I didn’t catch the look on his face as he said this since he was already out of the car and coming around to my side. By the time I opened my door, his hand was reaching inside to help me out, and I took it. It was cool to the touch of my hot and sweaty fingers as he gripped me.

“Let’s go find me some furniture.” As he said this, he pulled me up and toward him, and I still held his hand as we stood by the car. I pulled it away, my breaths choppy as I did.

We headed through the doors of the store and looked around. I didn’t know what he was looking for, and was about to ask when a saleswoman approached us.

“Hello, my name is Amanda. May I help you?” Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back, almost touching her waist. Her skirt was so short it barely contained her sky-high legs. The makeup she wore made her look like one of those TikTok girls who does makeup for her followers; it was gorgeous. She was gorgeous.

I felt totally, completely, one hundred percent inadequate.

And not that I cared, but she only had eyes for Gage.

“Yeah, my fiancée and I have just moved into the area and need a full apartment of furniture.” His face was dead serious as he spoke, and her face twisted in disgust as she looked my way. I was pretty sure she didn’t even see me until Gage mentioned me.

“Of course, let’s get you both set up. How exciting that must be.” She was not the least bit casual about looking at my hand for a ring and had not one ounce of excitement in her voice. And I wondered how Gage intended to keep the lie going. But we fell into step with her as he grabbed my hand, and his wide smile made me giggle.

Gage handed her his credit card. “Can you set me up with an account? And here’s my card for the delivery.”

She took his information and hurried away, I think realizing she probably hit the jackpot of all commissions with this sale.

“What are you doing? How the hell do you plan on pulling this one off?” I scoffed in his direction as I started walking around the showroom.

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