Page 26 of Last Chance Seduction
I opened my mouth to say something, but Gia’s gaze caught on something behind me, and I turned as Mercy walked towards me with a bright smile on her face.
“There you are.”She ran towards me, wrapped her arm around my waist, and kissed me firmly on the cheek.Warmth spread through the ice that had slid through my system as Gia had spoken and I instinctively wrapped my arm around her waist.“Thanks for taking on a quiet day so that I could work.Now, why don’t you introduce me.”She turned to Gia and held out her hand.“Hi, I’m Mercy.Lex’s girlfriend.”
ChapterSix
Mercy
Was it really spying if you just happened to be in your living room at the front window drinking a cup of tea?It wasn’t as if I had purposely tiptoed towards the glass, leaned forward, and pressed my ears so close I could possibly hear their words.
No, I had just opened the window earlier to let out smoke because I had forgotten I had put a pan on the stove and went to work.It had taken me longer than I’d wanted because of three more random calls that led to nowhere that were really starting to annoy me.Yes, I had only been working a room away, but boiled eggs that had been over-boiled with all of the water gone, made for a disgusting mess.I was just lucky I hadn’t burned down my house.
So, that was why the window was open.And that was why I had been able to hear most of every conversation Lex had had over the past twenty minutes.Including one with Brooklyn.
It wasn’t my fault that I had heard my name.Anybody would be curious.So I continued to sip my tea, because I was a voice actor.I needed to soothe my throat and practice voice rest so I could continue working on my heavy deadline.I was the one who put myself into this deadline over the holidays, but that was fine.I was making it work, and here I was, sipping the rest of my tea as I listened to Gia drone on and on about her perfect life.
I cringed.No, that was uncalled for.Gia had always been nice to me.At least the few times we had hung out together as a group.But she hadn’t really understood why Lex had female friends and frankly, I didn’t blame her.After all, my fiancé had ended up cheating on me with the wedding planner.So maybe having female friends when you couldn’t trust the person you’re with really didn’t make sense.
But Lex was trustworthy.That much I knew after knowing him for so many years of my life.Gia had been cautious about his female friendships, and I had always understood.I had never wanted to be the person who could hurt someone’s relationship.
But it seems in the time I had been gone, Gia had not only broken up with Lex and moved on, but Lex’s other girlfriend was already married and having a baby with someone else.
I was terrible at relationships.Yes, I hadn’t had one or frankly, hadn’t had sex since Justin, and that was something I didn’t want to think about.But it seemed that Lexington was as bad off when it came to romance as me.And that sounded like a terrible time.
When Gia continued on about family matters and what her father was looking for in terms of a contractor, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.
None of the Montgomerys in that particular branch were married from what I remembered.Meaning none of the Montgomerys who wanted that job had family.Cousins, siblings, and loving parents counted as family in my book.Considering I had nobody left, it sure as hell counted.But I didn’t think that was the family Gia was talking about.Somehow, I found myself outside of my house, walking down my path, doing the most insane thing I could possibly do.
I slid my hand around Lex’s waist, gripping his belt loop with all of my strength.Then without thinking, I went to my toes and kissed his cheek like I had a right to do that.I ignored the odd warmth in my belly at the touch.This had to be an out of body experience, after all.I said a few words that might have made sense, then did the most ridiculous thing possible.
“Hi, I’m Mercy.Lex’s girlfriend.”
Hello, stupidity, my name is Mercy.
Gia knew who the fuck I was.Why the hell was I acting as if we had never met before?Of course, we each had different hair color then, and she had new jewelry.Like the biggest diamond I’d ever seen in my life.
But that wasn’t even the crazy part.
Girlfriend.Lex.Me.
Well, at least Lexington had already dug a hole for me to dive into and never be seen from again.If he could just cover me up with that excess dirt, that would be great.Maybe he could plant some flowers over me, and I could bring beauty to the world.
Because there was no way I was getting out of this embarrassing situation with my pride.
All was lost.
“Mercy?What?Oh.Oh it’s Gia.”The smile on Gia’s face brightened so much that I practically needed sunglasses.She had always been a beautiful woman, but right then, she was absolutely gorgeous.And from the calculating look in her eyes, she was also cunning.
And for some reason a slight tinge of jealousy trickled up my spine, but I ignored that.Because there was no reason for me to be jealous.She was beautiful but we’d seen beneath the surface.
“I recognize you.You look amazing.I didn’t realize you and Lex were together.”She turned to Lex, that Cheshire Cat smile on her face.“Oh, what a small world.And to think, you two were just friends when we were dating.It’s so interesting how things turn out.”
“Um,” Lex said by my side.“Um.”
Well, he had dug the hole physically, and I was just going to continue to dig it figuratively.
He cleared his throat.“Right.I’m so sorry.It has been a while, hasn’t it?It’s nice to see you, Gia.And congratulations on the wedding and everything.”
That sounded like a goodbye if I’d ever heard one.And I wanted to eat my own foot.
