Page 115 of Wrench

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Lizzie cracked up with a playful laugh. I felt bad for lying, but I couldn¡¯t help but laugh

along with her. Knowing I was busted, I turned to Ellen and admitted, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ellen.

There is no house.¡±

¡°Wh-what?¡± she asked. ¡°Did you not get approved?¡±

¡°No, Ellen,¡± Lizzie laughed. ¡°There was never any house to begin with. She¡¯s got a

date.¡±

¡°Oh.¡± Ellen frowned. ¡°A house is far more exciting than a man. Why would you try

hiding it from us?¡±

¡°Well¡­¡± I said, biting my lip. ¡°It¡¯s the guy from here, the guy with the dog¡­¡±

Both of them gasped and Lizzie held up her arms above her head. ¡°I knew it! You¡¯ve

been acting so strange since you met him! You said he never called you, though.¡±

¡°I also said I was buying a house, so¡­¡±

¡°Why lie, though?¡± Ellen asked and nerves filled me. Already, I was sharing more

information than I felt physically safe sharing, but the web of lies I was wrapping myself

in was getting overwhelming.

¡°It¡¯s¡­ a weird situation,¡± I said. ¡°Very, uh, opposite lifestyles. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s

really going on with it¡­¡±

¡°Still,¡± Lizzie said with exasperation. ¡°You went out with the hottest guy ever and you

didn¡¯t even tell us!¡±

¡°What do you mean by different lifestyles?¡± Ellen asked. ¡°Does he not want kids or

something?¡±

¡°No, no,¡± I laughed. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve been on two dates. That¡¯s the last thing we¡¯d start

talking about.¡±

¡°So, what is it?¡±

¡°Uh¡­¡± I began, massaging my shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s really into motorcycles¡­¡±

Both of them narrowed their eyes at me skeptically.

¡°Does he like¡­ wear leather pants?¡± Lizzie asked with a scowl and I burst out

laughing.

¡°No! Not that I¡¯ve seen, at least.¡± I briefly imagined him in leather pants. Hey, if

anyone could rock them it¡¯d be Isaac.

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