Page 38 of Surviving Lies

“I wasn’t looking for a relationship when I came back to school, Becca. You were a happy little surprise to me. If it works, it works.” He reached around and grabbed my ass before continuing. “I will say, I do hope we can continue. But if not, I understand. It’s what we agreed.”

Our faces were mere centimeters apart, breaths mingling. Our eyes searched each other’s – for what, I didn’t know exactly.

“If I kiss you now, I have a feeling you won’t make it back downstairs to your girls’ night.” He placed a chaste peck on my lips and pulled away immediately.

I wanted to whine.

“Will I see you tomorrow? Are you going to Mid Street?” I asked, genuinely interested.

He nodded. “I offered to drive the gang over in the pickup. I can bring you and your roommates if you need a ride.” I wasn’t sure what he meant by “the gang.”

“I’ll definitely take the offer of a ride. It’s hard to get over there, living off campus.” I started getting up from the bed, but he held me in place.

“Ty is part of the group I’m driving over.” His voice was serious.

“Does Ty know that?” I asked incredulously, truly thinking Ty would accept nothing from Gage.

“He was right there when the plan was being made. He knows. I offered because I have to meet with a professor later tomorrow, so I can’t drink.”

Gage seemed as skeptical as I was. But Ty was not a malicious person; I wasn’t going to jump to conclusions about him.

“Well, OK. It’s OK; it will be OK. Ty’s a good guy, Gage. You’ll see.”

I only hoped I was right.

And I wondered if Gage realized I never really answered his question about slowing things down.

Chapter 12

Becca

“Becca! Let’s go! The truck is here!” Lanie yelled from downstairs. I was putting the finishing touches on my makeup because I had to look perfect. I was going to be with both the guys in my life today.

My life. How did it get so complicated? After Gage left last night, the girls were full of questions for me, and I had no answers. I had no idea where my relationship was at with either Ty or Gage.

Can a heartbroken person still in love with you walk away that easily? But as soon as he saw me at the start of the semester, it was as if the abandoned months of the summer hadn’t existed. Sure, he had given me some answers, but was that enough?

And in walked Gage. The handsome stranger who offered me a long-term booty call with no strings attached. Yet there were strings attached. The fraternity they were both a part of was a huge rope tying us all together.

And here I was, on my way out to a truck that was holding both the guys I was involved with.

“Shit, Lanie, how am I going to do this?” I asked as we approached the truck. The bed was already full to the brim with guys and girls. Ty had to be somewhere back there, but I couldn’t see him yet.

“You’re going to hold your head up high and just do it.” Lanie entwined her arm with mine, thank God. Because if she hadn’t, I didn’t think I could stand, I was shaking so bad.

When we walked up to the bed of the truck, we saw Ava and Macie squished on the floor. I looked around and found Ty, both of us making eye contact and smiling. My stomach still got butterflies when I caught sight of him. He seemed to try to make room for us, pushing the people near him over. It was too crowded, though. It wasn’t happening.

“Doesn’t seem like there’s room, Lanie.” I looked at her nervously, thinking we wouldn’t have a ride to the tailgate.

“Lanie! Becca!” Macie called as she tried to make room for us as well. She was pushing the guys next to her, attempting to get them out of the bed of the truck, it appeared.

As we walked closer to the truck to talk to her, Macie leaned her head down a bit. “Thanks, Macie, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to work,” I told her.

She looked around, and then her eyes lit up. “Up front, go sit up front!”

Lanie grabbed my hand and dragged me to the front of the truck where the window was open.

“Hey, Gage,” Lanie said.

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