Page 78 of For the Win

Wearing jeans and a pink T-shirt that saysNAMASTE BITCHESon the front, I splash cold water on my face, then swipe on mascara and pink lip gloss.

A few minutes later, I open the door to Harrison.Wings flutter wildly in my belly, trying to climb up my esophagus.

He gives me a look—steady, inquiring, solemn.“Hi.”

“Come in.”

I twist a piece of hair between my fingers as I follow him into the living room.He doesn’t sit but turns to face me.He tilts his head.“Misunderstanding?”

I drop my butt onto a chair, since my knees feel like pudding.“I saw you today.At the pier.”I meet his eyes, studying his reaction.

His eyebrows pull down.“What?I wasn’t at the pier.”

“Isawyou, Harrison.”I sigh.“And the girl you were with.Kissing her.”

His mouth falls open.“What?”

“It’s okay.”I take a deep breath.“Like I said, I think we misunderstood each other.I didn’t realize you were seeing other people too.It...took me by surprise.”

“I’m not seeing anyone else!Jesus.What the hell are you talking about?”

“You don’t have to deny it.I don’t like playing games.Just be honest.”

“Are you accusing me of lying to you?”His eyes narrow.

I worry my bottom lip with my teeth.He seems genuinely confused.And getting angry.

“Youarelying,” I whisper.

He shakes his head, looks up at the ceiling, then back at me.“I’m not lying, Arya.We haven’t known each other long, but I’d think you know I’m not a liar.”

“You’re right, we haven’t known each other long.And I don’t know what I know!Apparently, I’m a terrible judge of character.Look, I’m not...I’m just saying, I was surprised, I didn’t expect that, and...”I stop, my throat thickening.“I’ll admit it hurt.”

“I wasn’t at the pier.”His voice is low, his jaw clenched.“I had a team meeting.It went long.I hung around and talked to some of the guys for a while and had lunch.Then I went shopping for a birthday present for my dad.In West Hollywood.Notthe pier.”

My hands are shaking, my heart is banging.I don’t know what to say.“Isawyou.”

He stares back at me, eyes clear and guileless.

I’m so confused!He seems sincere.But I know what I saw.I don’t understand why he’s lying.

Suddenly his eyes fly open wide.“Oh shit.”

I blink.Did he just remember hewasthere?That’s crazy.

He pulls out his phone and swipes and taps the screen, then holds it to his ear.“Hey,” he says.“Where are you?”He listens.“On a date?”Again, he listens.“Who is she?”He nods.“What time did you get there?”Then he grins.

Now my jaw goes slack.Who is he talking to?I twist another strand of hair, watching him.

Harrison laughs.“Hey, take a selfie of you two and send it to me.No, really.”

I squint at him incredulously.What is going on?

“Just do it.Okay.See you tomorrow, right?”He ends the call, then slowly walks toward me as he watches his phone.He crouches down beside my chair.His phone dings with an incoming message and he lets me see the screen as he opens it, then taps on the image attached.

I stare at the photo.

I look up at Harrison.

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