Read Online Compulsive (Liar #1) by Lia Fairchild - Free Book Online Page A

He
wore a simple long-sleeved black shirt and jeans. With his physique, every
outfit modeled well.
    His arms pulled me to my comfort zone, a place that
had always given me safety and seclusion.
    “You’ve been waiting patiently,” I said, eyeing his
drink when he released me.
    “I ordered for you, too. Here it is now.”
    I slid onto the stool next to him just as a martini
floated into the spot in front of me. “Thanks, Eddy.”
    “How ya been, Gray? Haven’t seen you in a while.” He
pulled empty glasses from further down the bar where a small group had vacated.
His short blonde ponytail slid to the side of his neck when he bent over the
counter. Modern rock stemmed from speakers above, low enough so patrons didn’t
have to shout.
    “Workaholic doesn’t suit me, but I found my way back
here.” I reached over and squeezed Nathan’s arm in case he had the urge to
chime in with a comment.
    “Well, I’m glad to have that gorgeous smile back,”
Eddy said.
    “Thank you.” I turned to Nathan when I saw that a
customer had summoned Eddy by waving his card. The relaxed glow emanating from
him told me I’d been forgiven. Then, his words confirmed. “He’s right you
know…you’re gorgeous.”
    My lips curled, but I kept my teeth hidden. “How many
girls have you said that to in the last week?”
    “Counting you?”
    I nodded.
    “Two.”
    My grin fell, and my eyes questioned him.
    “You…and Sheila.”
    I punched him in the arm and then picked up my drink.
“Your German Shepherd doesn’t count.”
    “Hey.” He grabbed his arm, feigning pain. “You’re much
cuter than she is…especially when you’re jealous.”
    I took a slow sip of my drink, showing him I was
unaffected by his accusation. He watched me with a confident grin. “Since when
was I ever jealous?” I said.
    His mouth turned tight, and he nodded. “Unfortunately,
that’s probably true.”
    “So how’s the restaurant?” I asked, attempting to brighten
the mood…or postpone my news.
    Nathan leaned into me, his hand finding my calf,
sliding up to my knee. “Things are good.” His eyes told me the now almost empty
beer was not his first. Upsetting him wasn’t my intention, but this shouldn’t happen
tonight. I turned from his gaze and took another sip; he pulled back and
continued while grabbing his beer. “New patio looks incredible. You should come
see it. I haven’t cooked for you there in such a long time.”
    “I will. Soon.”
    We drank in silence, people watched, checked our
phones. “You want another?” he asked as I downed the last sip.
    “I better not.”
    His head bobbed tiny little bobs as he stared at me,
waiting. “Well…you called this party.”
    I turned toward the bar and rested on my elbows, so I
wouldn’t have to see his face, his eyes examining mine. “Remember how I said
Evyn made me take that programming class for our new database system?”
    “Yeah.”
    “I lied.” Those two little words had such immense
meaning. You’d think I’d have said them a million times by now. I could scarcely
remember if I’ve ever said them to anyone but Nathan, and even to him it was
rare. One drunken night here of all places, we’d shared our sad stories. And
since he had the disclaimer going in, I didn’t feel obligated to justify myself
to him at every turn. We accepted each other and our demons.
    “You made all that up about the new program, and how
it was going to change the way you guys do business and all that?”
    “No, that was all true. But, I learned everything in
about five minutes. Probably could have done it in my sleep. I ended up
training everyone else on it.”
    “You’ve lost me. So, you’re saying there was no
class?”
    I turned my head to look at him, confusion lacing over
his eyes. “Right.”
    “Then, what were you doing all those Tuesday nights?”
    “I was seeing a shrink.”
    It registered slowly, and then his face held surprise.
He coughed out a laugh. “You’re shitting