After setting my phone on the table, I sat down on the bed, propped up the pillows, and turned the TV on. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and I smiled when I saw it was from Paige.
Paige: I already knew you were there with Bianca. You made good on making nice.
“What the fuck?” I mumbled as I looked at the screen shot Paige had sent me. Bianca was leaning over, saying something to me as I looked down at my phone. That’s when it hit me. The picture Harper had taken. She had sent it to Paige. But how?
My fingers jerked through my wet hair. Holy hell. Harper was Paige’s roommate her freshman and sophomore year of college! I suddenly remembered seeing pictures of her on Paige’s Facebook and Instagram.
I hit Paige’s number.
“Can’t sleep?” she said instead of saying hello.
“Seriously? Is this what we’re going to do? Play games?”
Paige remained quiet for a moment. “I’m not playing any games, Lucas. You’re the one who neglected to tell me you were spending the evening with your ex-girlfriend. I simply was caught off guard when an old friend sent me a text. Needless to say, I would rather you had told me, that’s all.”
“I didn’t know I was going to be seeing her.”
“You knew she was an investor. You didn’t think that was something you should have told me? I wouldn’t have cared, Lucas, but when you keep things from me, of course it gives me a moment of pause.”
“Usually investors don’t show up for shit like that. She wasn’t there for the meeting and only showed up afterwards because she knew we’d all head to the bar. So how was it you had a little spy in the fold?”
She laughed. “Spy? Hardly. You mentioned my father’s name and then mine, Harper put two and two together and realized you were the same Lucas who broke up with me in college. That’s all.”
“That explains all the dirty looks coming my way. If you knew Bianca was there, why didn’t you just say so?”
“I didn’t know until Harper sent the picture a few minutes ago. Earlier she texted to tell me she finally got to meet you.”
“Funny, she didn’t introduce herself to me. Too busy giving you a play by play of my moves? Would you maybe like to FaceTime so you can see that my room is empty?”
She remained silent, then I heard a slow exhale. “Believe it or not, I actually trust you, Lucas. Even when Harper sent me the picture of you stepping into the elevator with Bianca. I texted her back and asked her to stop and said that I trusted you a hundred percent.”
Anger boiled in my veins, and I had no fucking idea why.
That was a lie. I did. I hadn’t stood my ground and said no. Bianca had tried to play a game tonight and here I was blaming Paige for playing games instead.
Paige didn’t say anything for a few moments. She mistook my silence for anger. “Did the pictures throw me? Yes, but I’m smart enough not to believe everything I see. Honestly, what makes me more upset right now is how angry you are with me. I’m tired, and I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning, Lucas. I love you.”
The phone went silent, a clear sign she’d hung up. I drew back and stared at it. She had every right to be pissed at me. I quickly got dressed, packed up my things and made my way to the front desk to check out. There was only one place I wanted to be, and the quicker I got there, the better.
Paige
THE SOUND OF the bedroom door opening made me freeze. Oreo lifted her head and looked toward the door.
I swallowed hard. “I don’t mind if you want to co-exist in the house. But a ghost in my bedroom when I’m home alone is not going to sit well with me.”
A soft male chuckle made me sit up.
“Lucas, what on Earth are you doing here?”
He dropped his things on the floor, then pulled his shirt over his head. I watched him come to a stop next to the bed and kick off his shoes, then his pants and boxers. He climbed into the bed, drawing my body flush against his.
“I’m sorry I acted like an idiot. I was pissed at myself for not telling Pete that I wasn’t going to make nice with Bianca. Timothy and Pete were still at the bar when I checked out of my room. I told Timothy that I was done, one hundred percent finished with all projects.”
“What?” I said, sitting up to look down at him. “Lucas, you said you were going to be paid really well for that job. If you leave the company, you’re out of work completely.”