Page 59 of Lie With Me
Tripp
“I’m sorry. I’m sure this isn’t what you imagined when I asked if you wanted to get a room,” I tell the brunette who goes by Misty as she perches on the edge of a black velvet clamshell loveseat.
“It’s okay. It happens more often than you’d think, honestly. A lot of guys get cold feet once we’re inside the rooms,” she explains with a shrug of her shoulders.
I never had any intention of doing something with her inside this room. My feet aren’t cold, I just wanted to piss Lenni off. Between Jackson on my case about not getting too close and her pushing me away, I just exploded.
Running a hand through my hair, I let out a long sigh, turning toward her. “Why are women so complicated?”
Surprisingly, she giggles and stretches out on the loveseat, her black wings cocooning around her. “Women aren’tthatcomplicated. Tell me your situation, and I’ll see if I have any good advice.”
Collapsing onto the bed, I stretch out on my back and fold my arms beneath my head. “Let’s just say we’re fake dating, though I want it to be real, and I think she does, too. We’re fucking, and I treat her like she’s mine. But she keeps saying we can’t be together because she works here.”
“Fake dating? Why on earth are youfakedating? I had no idea that actually happens in real life.”
“It’s a long story, and the important part is that if she really doesn’t want to date me, then why does she keep sleeping with me? We’re so good together. I just wish she’d let me in.”
Misty is silent for a few moments, and when I look over at her, she’s staring at a random spot on the wall, her seafoam eyes glazed over, lost in thought. Finally, she says, “If she’s working here, there’s probably a reason. My best advice, if you don’t know what her reasoning is, have patience with her. Maybe shedoeswant to be with you, but she’s scared of what that looks like. A lot of women who work here have been hurt in the past. Whether emotionally, physically, or both. Abuse of all kinds takes a long time to heal from, and sometimes, you never truly heal at all.”
I let her words sink in. There have been a few things that Lenni has said that have hinted at her having a shitty childhood. Whenever I try to get her to open up about it, she shuts down and changes the subject. And I’ve never askedwhyshe works here atDésirer for fear of her thinking I’m being judgmental.
“I guess I never thought about that,” I murmur. “You’re good. I’m guessing this is what the Confessional wing is normally all about?”
She laughs. “Yep. Usually, that’s the only wing I work, but tonight, I wanted to try something a little different. I guess I’m just destined for gold wings, though.”
“Sorry. For what it’s worth, I’ll obviously pay the Dreamers rate for your time.”
My mind goes to Lenni, and I wonder if I should stick around until she’s finished or if I should just go home. Something tells me she watched me walk away and bring this woman into the wing, so I’m prepared for the silent treatment.
I’m tempted to show up on her doorstep and beg for forgiveness for acting like an asshat.
“I hope whatever happens, you guys work it out. I firmly believe whatever is meant to be will be.”
“And what if it isn’t meant to be?”
“Well, then you make the most of the time that you have.”
An entire fucking week passes before I see her again.
Lenni doesn’t give me the silent treatment, but what she does give me is almost worse. Every call goes unanswered, and every text is met with a short,clipped, one or two-word reply. The most she’s said to me all week is asking how my time with the brunette went.
I do my best to stay focused at work, but my thoughts continuously stray to her throughout the days. During the nights, I wonder if she’s working, but I don’t go to the club. She obviously needs space, so I want to respect that.
The fact that we’re on such icy terms on the day of our engagement party is not good, though. Having to speak to my parents and pretend everything is okay is not ideal—especially when I know my mother and Lenni are on daily speaking terms now.
“Jesus, she’s in a mood tonight. Why don’t you take her into the guest room and fuck the brat out of her before we leave?” Jackson suggests as he walks into the living room of his and Ginny’s penthouse.
Lenni wanted to get ready with Ginny and said to meet her at their place so we could all go to the party together. I don’t think she wants to be alone with me, but I need to make sure we’re on the same page before we walk into an event where everyone will be watching us with curious eyes, wondering who she is and why we got engaged so quickly.
“What did she do?” I ask, trying to sound uninterested as I attach my cufflinks.
“Just snappy. I wanted to know how much longer they’d be, and she bit my head off. Said the party doesn’t start until you guys arrive. My guess? She’s practicing being a bitch because she’s going to try and sabotage something. Just be prepared.” He walksto his kitchen and pulls out a bottle of bourbon, pouring us two shots.
“She’s not going to sabotage anything. She’s just nervous,” Ginny’s voice rings out behind me.
I turn to look at her as I take my shot. She’s wearing a simple champagne gown that fits loosely around her stomach, even though it will be weeks before she starts to show.
Lenni steps out a few moments after Ginny, and my breath catches in my throat. It’s the first time I’ve seen her since I walked away from her last Saturday night, and everything in my chest clenches at the sight of her.