Page 117 of Bitter Lies

Suspiciously, I stare at her pale face, and when she raises her gaze to me, I falter and look her over with new eyes as shame pulses through me, because—fuck!

To my relief, Griffin steps away from Miranda, but I feel no victory because he should be stepping away for me, because he wants me and not because he’s hated Jason for years.

Which begs the question, why is Jason invited everywhere?

Wait. As I search his expression, my mood darkens, and I lose track of the conversation until Miranda says, “It, um, didn’t work out, obviously.”

Meeting her eyes, I share a look I would never wish upon another person. “Yeah, well, he can be a little intense.”

Spiraling, I turn away, intent on escape despite my resolve earlier, but Griffin stalls me, saying firmly, “I bought breakfast. Come. Eat.”

I’m seriously tempted to ignore him because being in Miranda’s presence, knowing she feels my pain, has panic pushing at my sternum as the wretched emotion I can’t outrun churns within me.

“I should go,” Miranda says uncomfortably, looking anywhere but at either of us.

Griffin’s eyes narrow as he glances between us. “No need. There’s plenty.”

I guess both Miranda and I feel caught because we sit down without another word of protest and dish out the eggs and bacon onto plates he provides.

The silence is deafening as we eat, and I have to force the food past the lump in my throat, fear making me jittery. I’m perfectly safe, but my fight or flight is surging anyway, and I don’t even care about leaving them alone together. I want out that bad.

“So, you dated Jason?” Griffin says into the quiet.

I pause with my fork halfway to my mouth, wishing I had never brought the subject up, guilt coursing through me as she slumps the slightest bit. “Yes.”

“I take it you’re not friends anymore? I haven’t seen you around each other.”

“Not really.”

“Why? Did he break your heart, too?” Griffin says with a quiet desperation that makes my heart clench brutally.

Startled, I glance at him, but he’s not looking at me. He’s staring at her, and I take a deep breath to steady myself. Is he jealous? What’s he doing? And why?

“No,” she says, raising her chin and glancing at me with misery in her eyes.

Silently, I plead for forgiveness as she stares at me with her pain, but Griffin draws our attention away when he drops his fork with a clatter. “Then what?”

“I think I should go,” Miranda says shakily, standing.

“You don’t want to talk about Jason? Fine, how about you tell me why you fucked my best friend?”

Flinching, I turn my gaze to the table, ashamed of the relief I feel that he’s turned the subject, even though it’s got to be painful for her.

“Wh-what?” Her face is even paler if that’s possible.

“C’mon, you didn’t think I’d know?” Griffin chides.

“You sleep with other girls all the time.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t fuck your best friend. That’s a little slutty, don’t you think?”

“Griffin,” I whisper, shrinking when he turns to me.

“What? You have something to say? How about someone tells me what’s so fucking special about Jason Macklemore?”

“There’s nothing special about him,” I say through clenched teeth as Miranda laughs bitterly.

Before I can say more, she says, “Why? Why do you care? You don’t care about me. Is this about her?” she says, pointing at me. “I slept with Max because he wanted to get back at you, and I was pissed about the other bitches. And I dumped Jason because he wasn’t a nice person.”

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