Page 29 of A Lesson in Deceit
I nearly choked on my own spit. “Take that back right now.”
She laughed, ignoring me. “I mean, as much as River is growing on me, his brother could I don’t know growinme if you catch my drift.”
I was on my way to my afternoon class and tripped over my own feet. “Mare, can you fucking stop. That’s gross.”
She let out a haughty laugh. “How? Don’t you read about this kind of thing?”
“I don’t expect this shit to just happen in real life. It’s fiction for a reason, you shit.”
A few students passed me, giving me weird looks and I ducked my head down.
“Oh, honey, we live in a world where magic and monsters are real. A little teacher-student relations is not going to kill you.”
I groaned, pulling open the door to the building that my composition writing course was held in. “If by monsters you mean like shifters…my roommate is dating one and they seem less monstrous than half the people you’ve dated.”
“I resent that.” I heard the beep of her car unlocking. “Can’t you just like fuck him with disdain or something?”
“Can’t you just not ever ask me to fuck my boyfriend’s brother ever again?” I heard myself laughing as I said it.
She hummed on the other end, like this was something for her to highly consider. “Fine. River has been good to you so I guess you shouldn’t let the hot professor fuck your cute little brains out.”
I stopped right outside my classroom, letting people go in front of me so I could finish my call. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate that. And by the way, he could be terrible in bed.”
Marianne snorted, the rev of her car rattling through the phone. “Riley, I may be a lesbian and not want anything to do with what Asher has going on in his pants, but I promise you…I can tell when someone is a memorable fuck. Which is kind of ironic since I’m sure he would have you forgetting your own name.”
In my head, I was giving her the middle finger.
I blinked downat my phone, realizing that my fingers were hovering over the screen.
What are you talking about?
MARIANNE
Your boyfriend, you know that guy you’re fucking?
Yes, I am well aware of who he is.
MARIANNE
Next weekend. He’s having a party.
How did you hear about that all the way in Virginia?
MARIANNE
I know people and I’m coming home that weekend anyway.
When were you going to tell me you were coming home?
MARIANNE
Just now. Keep up, babe. I have to go to class but I love you.
I blew out a breath, thoroughly confused at River having a party and not telling me.
MARIANNE
My mom says your mom is doing good. She had the idea to get her on a dating app, but I shut that down very quickly so don’t worry. Also my mom, bless her soul, can’t figure out how to send a damn picture so here you go.
