Page 86 of Exes Don't

He types back immediately.

Anton

In that case, can I see you tonight?

I let out a soft chuckle. I want to see him too. Really see him. Not covertly while I’m trying to do reconnaissance work. But I don’t know how to respond, because anything I say will be a bold-faced lie. I mull it over for a couple seconds and then type out my answer, staying as close to half-truths as possible.

Rose

I’m sorry I’m tied up.

Not a total lie. I’m just not tied up with my sisters like he thinks I am. And then, because I’m dying to tell him something real, I add:

Rose

I miss you too, for the record.

I’m staring at my phone, so I don’t see the movement in my periphery until it’s too late.

“Rose?”

I jolt upright and find Duke giving me a questioning look.

“Uh, yeah. Hi.” I stand, sliding my phone back into my purse. I need to get out of here.

“What are you doing?”

I cast a quick glance at the bathroom door, hoping Anton takes a minute longer in there.

“I was having a drink.” I motion to my empty wine glass. “I was just leaving.”

“I thought you were with your sisters tonight. That’s what Anton said. He’s here.”

“Is he really?” My words come out sounding all pitchy.

“You didn’t see him?” Duke points to the bathroom door. “He walked right past you.”

I let out a pretend chuckle. “I must’ve been really absorbed in my book.”

Duke doesn’t look like he believes me.

I collect my purse and book. “I’m going to get going.”

“You don’t want to wait and say hi to Anton? I’m sure he’d be glad to see you.”

Not after he knows I lied to him.

I feel like the walls are closing in on me, and there’s no way out of this. Either way, Duke is going to tell Anton he saw me.

This is bad. This is really, really—

“Rose?” Anton’s voice sounds close, and I spin around to find him directly behind me.

—bad.

There are two different emotions swirling around in his eyes. One I’d catalog as delight. He’s happy to see me. The other is confusion. He can’t understand why I’m here.

Honestly, fair.

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