Page 27 of Conflict
BY THEtime I make it back to Atlanta, mental warfare has taken my brain over. One half thinks I should’ve stayed, while the other commends me for not sticking around to find out what else Shane may have lied about. There’s a niggling thought telling me that every moment we spent together was genuine, regardless of if he didn’t want me to know he was more business executive than pool boy. But he’d had more than one opportunity to spill the beans, and he didn’t. How do you start a relationship based on a lie?
Ugh. I’m fooling myself. It’s an excuse, I know it is, and yet I keep telling myself his lies meant more than work. His very minor, not-that-big-a-deal omission. Because let’s be honest. That’s what it was. It’s just… I don’t know if I’m ready to admit that I’m willing to give up what could be a great thing for work.
Still, I can’t be too mad for whatever reason I decide to claim. I no longer have the virgin tag hanging over my head. And now that I know who he is, I can avoid him. It shouldn’t be all that hard. Atlanta’s a big city, and it’s not like he’s going to be waltzing into WC any time soon. It does kind of put a damper on my love for swanky bars around the city for fear out of running into him, but with work being crazy, I doubt I’ll have time to go out anyway.
Netflixing by myself just got a whole lot sweeter.
When I let myself into my apartment, the outline of a small person causes me to jump and shout in alarm. Said person pops up, and I switch the light on, shocked to see my sister on my couch.
“What are you doing here?” we echo in unison.
“You tell me!” Once again, that comes from both of us at the same time.
I place my hand on my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. “Ariana, why are you in my apartment?”
She chews on her lower lip. “Well, after the other night…you know, I didn’t want to go to Florida. But I didn’t want Benjamin to find out I was still in town, so I knew I couldn’t go to my apartment.”
“But he doesn’t live there?” I question.
The one true gift my parents gave Ariana—besides me, of course—was their insistence that she and Benjamin not live together until they were married. Something I’m truly grateful for. And he seems to avoid her place whenever I am around, so I try to be around as often as I can.
“He has a key. Plus, I wouldn’t put it past him to drive by just to make sure I’m not there. He’s the last person I want to see, so I thought, with you being down in Florida, hooking up with your mystery man, I’d be safe here.” Her eyes narrow. “I’ve explained. Now, it’s your turn. Why the hell are you home already? You sounded ecstatic over the phone.”
I make a show of rolling my eyes even though my heart’s hurting. I still can’t believe I formed an attachment so quickly.
“It…didn’t work out.”
Sympathy washes over her face. “But you said it was good… You wanted to do it again.”
I nibble on my lower lip, wondering what I can say to get out of it. I just wave a hand as if I haven’t a care in the world. “It’s no big deal, Ari. Promise. Shane had to leave, so I figured I’d come home, too.”
“Shane?” she asks, her brow furrowed.
“Oh, um…” I struggle to come up with a lie. “It’s actually funny. He’s, um, an old acquaintance from college and just happened to be vacationing down there at the same time as me. One thing led to another and… Well, I’m no longer a virgin.”
Ariana tilts her head and peers at me, the pad of her index finger tapping against her chin. “But I thought you said he was the pool boy.”
Drat. I never was a good liar, which is why I never lie to her. Fortunately, Bryan’s been teaching me the art of poker. I hope my face isn’t as readable as it is when we play. “Oh, it was just a joke. He was, um, a swimmer in college. We were having a couple of drinks, and I joked that a fantasy of mine was sleeping with the pool boy. He volunteered.”
I hate lying to her. I really do. It’s just…. Now that I’ve already lost him—or, well, run away from him—I don’t want to share the memory of him.
Her ponderous look turns into a delighted one. “So, what happened? Why are you home early?”
“Oh…well, Shane got called back to the city for work. I felt like my mission was accomplished and decided to come home and hang out with you.”
“If you were bummed after his leaving, your first time must’ve been better than mine.” Her nose wrinkles. Then her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I can’t believe I just said that!”
I laugh and then loop my arm through hers. “For years, you’ve never told me about that night. Now that I know how it goes, you’re finally going to spill. But first? Wine.”
Her groan carries us to the kitchen, where I pour us both a glass of a fancy glass of red wine Cheyenne and Sawyer gifted me the night of my graduation party. That and the paid two weeks off. Seriously? Best boss ever.
“Lyss, I hate to say it, but I think I may need liquor for this.”
I grin, crossing the room and dig through my freezer until I come up with a bottle of tequila. When I turn back, Ariana has her hands over her eyes.
“Lucky for you, sis, I got ya covered with the good stuff.”
She shakes her head. “I’m almost afraid to look.” Her fingertips spread slightly. Then she breathes a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God. If it was vodka, I was going to hurl.”
