Page 17 of Justified Lies

“Morning,” Lianna squeaked out as she tried to duck past him.

Mondays were the only day of the week that Gabe took Jacob to school. Mondays were also the only day of the week Lianna spent extra time getting ready for work. She told herself that it was because Mondays set the tone for the week and looking good was feeling good and blah, blah, blah.

This morning she wished she had her usual hoodie on, because then her hair wouldn’t look like a Chia Pet.

“Morning.” That rich, husky voice put some heat back into Lianna’s freezing limbs.

“Did you walk?” He turned to follow her. Lianna would often walk the brisk mile to school when the weather cooperated.

“No, it only looks that way because I forgot my umbrella.”

“Where’d you park? I’ll walk you to the car,” he said, raising the umbrella to shield her.

She stopped and looked at him. This newfound banter was starting to irritate her. Just when she was making peace with him only speaking when spoken to, being the bare minimum conversationalist, he decided they were apparently friends again.Of all mornings to be Chatty Cathy. She focused on closing her nostrils to his smell.

“I’m wet… I mean, I’m already wet, uh, don’t worry about it, I gotsoakedon the way here.” Not having a conversation that wasn’t forced apparently turned her into a flipping idiot. His mouth twisted into a smirk.

“I can see that,” he coughed out, “but it’s fine, I’m in no rush.”

Lianna considered making a run for it, just bolting for her car. But she’d made a big enough fool out of herself for one morning, so she went with it.

“Okay, if you really don’t mind.”

“I don’t,” he reassured her.

As they started for the car, he stepped closer, extending the umbrella so it covered her more than him. Their shoulders touched in the process, and he made no effort to pull away.

“I parked by the lane.”

Eyes downcast, Lianna tried to avoid making more eye contact than necessary. Gabe was practically standing over her and she was willing to bet her eye makeup resembled that raccoon he cleaned up the other day.

“Okay. So, were you able to have any semblance of a normal weekend? I didn’t hear from you, so I assumed everything was quiet yesterday.”

Did he expect to hear from me? Better question, did he want to?

“Nothing exciting,” she exhaled.

Lianna knew she should try here, but just wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. Undaunted, he filled the silence by telling her about meeting up with some work buddies Saturday night. As he easily chatted, Lianna half listened, half tried to figure out why he was so cheerful on a Monday morning?Oh, God, maybe he got laid over the weekend!

Pushing that awful thought aside, she scoured her brain for better explanations. Whatever it was, flashes of the old Gabe came rushing back. The Gabe who seemed comfortable in her presence, who laughed easily and smiled even easier. The man she had fallen so hard for. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him until now.

They walked slowly towards her car, almost as if he were dragging his feet intentionally. “We’re almost there,” Lianna interrupted, picking up the pace.

“Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Always assume you’re an inconvenience.”

“Oh, I don’t know, sorry,” she said, realizing how pathetic she sounded.

Gabe cleared his throat. “You’re not, you know, a burden. I’m sorry if I made you feel like one. I ah, well, I know you need … I just don’t mind helping out.”

He offered her a weak but sympathetic smile, and just like that Lianna’s heart sank. Gabe’s words clicked on a light bulb in her soggy head. He felt bad for her. It was pity that fueled his charity this morning. She would bet it was also pity, notinterest, that had him trying to be friends again. The realization transformed any sadness she felt into anger.

Lianna spent most of the last two years painting a smile on her face, as neighbors and teachers looked at her with puppy dog eyes. Never in her life had she been pitied before losing her husband, and it wasn’t a feeling she cared to get used to. She figured if she looked like she was coping, people would take her at face value, assuming she was fine. Lianna harbored too much guilt to handle the sympathetic stares. She couldn’t bear them from Gabe now too.

“Listen, I know I must look like a charity case, especially this morning, but I’m not your burden to bear,” she ground out.

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