Page 64 of Exception

Banter that used to come naturally feels forced, though she doesn’t seem to notice, her attention focused more on my body than my words, like I’m nothing more than a means to an end. A tool for her pleasure.

Is this what unwanted attention feels like? I haven’t had a woman turn down my attention before so I’ve probably never crossed a line, but going through the motions now makes me feel uneasy. Empty inside. I’m not sure I can do this indefinitely. Hell, I don’t want to do it tonight, but it’s part of the plan to get back to Tiff.

Two cocktails later, bar girl is ready to leave, and I escort her to within a block of her hotel before my phone pings with an incoming text.Right on schedule.

“Hey, I hate to do this to you,” I say as I read the text, “but it looks like my mom took a spill and I have to go check on her. Let me at least walk you back to your hotel before I go though.”

The brunette—Sherry, Sara, something with an ‘S’—visibly pouts, but she can’t complain without sounding like a horrible person, which is why Tiff and I came up with this ruse.

“Maybe I’ll catch up with you again before you leave town.”

“Tonight’s my last night.” She sighs heavily, confirming what I already know. She won’t be around long enough to mention my early departure to anyone who might find it suspicious. It’s a requirement I have to make the charade work.

“Shit, I’m sorry. Maybe on another trip then?” I give her a peck on the cheek when I deposit her at the door, a harmless gesture, and rush across town to Tiff’s.

***

God, I’m a douche.

Three weeks of playing Casanova, pretending to pick girls up only to ditch them before I can follow through, all in an effort to hide what I’m doing with Tiff while staying loyal to her, are taking a toll. Not only is the deception making me feel like a world class A asshole, it's cutting into time I could be spending with her.

Last week I was so tempted to say fuck it and ask if she wanted to come out of hiding, until Cade and Cora showed up unexpectedly and she herded me into the closet, where I had to hide out for nearly an hour.

I could hear them on the other side of the door, asking about the business plan Tiff and I are creating together, minus the extent of my contributions of course. Then they suggested that Andrew was still single if she wanted Lennon to resume her plans to set them up. Tiff said she’s still too focused on work to think about dating, and even though I know that’s her cover story, she said it with such conviction it left no doubt that she doesn’t want anything serious.

After my cousin and his wife left, I hate-fucked her against the closet door, which we both enjoyed far too much. But it got my head on straight. I may hate the hoops we’re jumping through to keep this going, but it’s better for everyone in the long run if our affair stays a secret.

So, here I am, going through the motions of picking up yet another woman only to set her aside once the coast is clear.

“Shit. I’m so sorry,” I recite my well-practiced line, “but my sister says my mom took a spill and I need to go check on her.”

Fifteen minutes later I sneak through Tiff’s back door, into her familiar embrace. Crushing my lips to hers I lose myself to her taste, her touch, trying to erase the memory of the poor woman I picked to unwittingly play a role in our deceit, and replace it with the woman in my arms.

Does that make me a romantic, or an even bigger asshole?

“Why do you smell like cherries?” Tiff wrinkles her nose when we pull apart.

“My fake hookup sloshed her drink on my shirt.” I trail kisses down her neck, loving the way it makes her tits press against me as she shivers.

“At least she had something fruity instead of beer.” She tugs at the material and I start to whip it over my head just as an angry fist pounds on her front door.

We both freeze, as if that will make the uninvited guest go away. It doesn’t.

“Hide.” Tiff’s wide eyes are pleading, betraying her naïve belief that we haven’t been caught. I know better.

“He’s on a mission,” I tell her as Cade’s voice echoes on the other side of the door, demanding to be let in. “Better let me take care of it.” I press my forehead against hers for a moment before giving her a last, lingering kiss. Then I make my way to the front door.

Cade’s eyes take a moment to register my presence before he lunges, his fist slamming against the side of my face with a fury I didn’t know he was capable of. My head swings violently to the side as Tiff screams and Cade demands I come outside.

Shaking off the punch in an attempt to clear my head, I face my cousin with as much calm as I can muster. “I won’t have this confrontation on her front lawn for the whole town to see. Either come inside or go home.”

Seething despite the fact he knows I’m right, Cade pushes past me and enters the cozy living room, Cora trailing behind him with a shocked expression.

“What did you do?” Tiff shoves at Cade’s chest before spinning to me and rising on her tiptoes to get a better look at my face, which I can already tell is starting to swell.

“It’s fine.” I wrap my hands on her arms and gently push her back a step.

“He had it coming.” Cade points an angry finger at me around Cora, who’s trying to contain him on the far side of the room.

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