Page 28 of How to Get Revenge on a Cheating Ex
I’d have to either pretend like everything’s okay or confront him about the photo.
I don’t want to do either. I really, really don’t. But I haven’t thought of any alternatives yet, and so long as he’s standing there smiling down at me, I never will.
His brows furrow at my silence. “Is your phone not working again? Bae, you need a new one.”
I shake my head. This is so very Grayson that for a minute I forget my paralyzing dilemma. “I don’t need a new phone.”
He reaches forward and snags me around the waist and tugs so I’m pressed up against him.
Do not throw up.
“No girl of mine is going to walk around using an old piece of crap hand-me-down. I told you I’m getting you a new phone for your birthday, right? Let’s just make it an early present.”
Early presents. Belated presents. Grayson excels at justifying presents.
Which I normally don’t mind. Okay, fine. Sometimes I love it. I’m an independent woman, and I don’t want a sugar daddy. But who doesn’t like getting presents? And it always makes Grayson so happy. He lights up like a kid at Christmas when he’s giving me some new gift.
Normally I’d laugh and give in. At any other time, I’d love that he’s worried about me. But right now...?
All I can hear is that one phrase—no girl of mine.
He thinks I’m his. And I know it’s just a turn of phrase, but it still sorta sounds like I’m one of many and so it makes me wonder—how many girls does he have?
I shake off the thought. I’m definitely jumping to conclusions. Maybe he and Rina were a one-time thing. Or maybe it was one moment of weakness. I can feel hope taking root in my belly, growing in direct proportion to his smile.
Maybe Rina started it and he got caught by the camera right before he pulled away in horror. Or maybe he’s been riddled with guilt and is just looking for the right moment to come clean.
He deserves the benefit of the doubt. Right?
He’s grinning down at me, and I think I must be smiling back because he’s already talking about what kind of phone he’s going to buy me.
Neither of us hears Zack until he’s right on top of us. “Look who it is!”
I jump away from Grayson like my dad just caught us making out on the couch. My cheeks are burning, and both guys give me a look that says I’m acting like a weirdo before Grayson turns to Zack. “What are you doing here?”
Zack’s eyes widen, and I realize I have never given Zack enough credit for being a good actor.
“What amIdoing here?” Zack laughs. “What areyoudoing here, man?”
Sure, he’s been off lately, but right now Zack’s acting about a million times more normal than I am.
My stomach twists with guilt. Shame. I’ve been caught. But I don’t even know what I feel more guilty about—that Zack and I are in on a secret behind Grayson’s back, or that Zack caught me hugging the enemy.
No, not the enemy. My boyfriend.
But boyfriend or not, I wince as I see this scene through Zack’s eyes.
I look pathetic. So freakin’ pathetic, letting Grayson hold me in his arms. Letting him buy me a new phone, as if that’s going to make anything better.
“Didn’t Bailey tell you?” Zack looks between me and Grayson with a wince of regret that fools no one. “This is awkward, huh?”
“What’s awkward?” That laughter is finally gone from Grayson’s eyes. “What are you doing here?”
Zack turns to me. “Didn’t you tell Grayson we had plans?”
He sounds so confused that for a second even I believe him.
I stare at Zack. He stares right back. Grayson shifts away to see me better. “You have plans.” Grayson’s voice is full of disbelief as he adds, “With Zack.”
