Read Online Lying With Strangers by James Grippando - Free Book Online
Authors: James Grippando
Ads: Link
missed calls, Sandra uttered those fateful words, the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, which opened up the minibar and turned down the bedsheets: “ Peyton didn’t call you back to say good night this time either, did she? ”
It seemed fitting that it happened on a night that culminated in Peyton’s accident. A painful ending to the biggest mistake in his life.
“I wish you didn’t have to go to work today,” said Peyton. She was sitting up in bed against the headboard, her injured leg propped up on a pillow.
“Is that because you’ll miss me or because you dread the thought of your mother coming over?”
“I plead the Fifth.”
“I thought so.” He handed her a cup of coffee.
“You know, this breakfast-in-bed routine reminds me of the first time you ever cooked for me. Remember?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
It was back when they were dating in college. He’d baked her brownies, following the directions meticulously, adding the ingredients in the exact order listed on the box. First the packaged mix. Exactly a half-cup of milk. One egg. Then he’d astonished Peyton by diving in with bare hands, chocolate mess up to his elbows. Only when she’d handed him a big wooden spoon did he realize he’d taken the recipe a little too literally: mix for sixty seconds by hand . “Proof positive you’re destined to be a lawyer,” Peyton had quipped. Thirty seconds later they were two students naked on the kitchen floor and covered in chocolate, doing things to each other that not even the threat of raw egg and salmonella poisoning could deter.
It was a fond memory just between them. But he hated when Peyton told that story to others. Made him look like an idiot.
“Maybe you can make us some brownies when you get home,” she said, smiling.
“Sure. Whatever you want.” He’d sounded more grumpy than intended.
She tasted her coffee, then asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I just wish I could wiggle out of this trip.”
“Then cancel. I love having you here with me.”
“I can’t. But New York isn’t that far away. Just call if there’s an emergency.”
“You mean if Mother and I finally kill each other?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m not scared anymore, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“Good.” He went to the dresser and popped open his briefcase.
“While I’m gone, why don’t you look these over?” He dropped a stack of papers beside her on the bed, then sat next to her. “I was on the Internet last night and pulled up a list of houses for sale. How do you feel about moving?”
“You know I can’t leave Boston.”
“I don’t mean move away. Just give up the apartment. For the same money or even less we could lease a place with an option to purchase when my job situation sorts itself out. Someplace close to the hospital but with a little yard. Something more familylike.”
He could see her surprise. Planting roots in Boston was something he’d always resisted.
“I think that’s a fantastic idea,” she said, her eyes brightening.
“It’s what I’ve wanted all along. But you don’t have to do this…you know, out of pity.”
“That’s not it.” Guilt, maybe, but never pity .
“But you hate it here. Why the change of heart?”
“The time we’ve spent together, just you and me, since the accident. It’s made me realize that Boston is where you need to be for your career. Mine’s going nowhere anyway.”
“You’re as good as any lawyer in this town.”
“That’s not what the firm thinks. None of the partners have told me anything specific, but I can read the writing on the wall. They’re finally pushing me out.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh well. I was a fool to have thought I could break into an old Boston firm. A wasted five years. It’s not your fault, but I know I’ve been taking it out on you. That’s the reason I’ve been so distant lately.”
“If that’s really what was bothering you, I wish you would have
It seemed fitting that it happened on a night that culminated in Peyton’s accident. A painful ending to the biggest mistake in his life.
“I wish you didn’t have to go to work today,” said Peyton. She was sitting up in bed against the headboard, her injured leg propped up on a pillow.
“Is that because you’ll miss me or because you dread the thought of your mother coming over?”
“I plead the Fifth.”
“I thought so.” He handed her a cup of coffee.
“You know, this breakfast-in-bed routine reminds me of the first time you ever cooked for me. Remember?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
It was back when they were dating in college. He’d baked her brownies, following the directions meticulously, adding the ingredients in the exact order listed on the box. First the packaged mix. Exactly a half-cup of milk. One egg. Then he’d astonished Peyton by diving in with bare hands, chocolate mess up to his elbows. Only when she’d handed him a big wooden spoon did he realize he’d taken the recipe a little too literally: mix for sixty seconds by hand . “Proof positive you’re destined to be a lawyer,” Peyton had quipped. Thirty seconds later they were two students naked on the kitchen floor and covered in chocolate, doing things to each other that not even the threat of raw egg and salmonella poisoning could deter.
It was a fond memory just between them. But he hated when Peyton told that story to others. Made him look like an idiot.
“Maybe you can make us some brownies when you get home,” she said, smiling.
“Sure. Whatever you want.” He’d sounded more grumpy than intended.
She tasted her coffee, then asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I just wish I could wiggle out of this trip.”
“Then cancel. I love having you here with me.”
“I can’t. But New York isn’t that far away. Just call if there’s an emergency.”
“You mean if Mother and I finally kill each other?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m not scared anymore, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“Good.” He went to the dresser and popped open his briefcase.
“While I’m gone, why don’t you look these over?” He dropped a stack of papers beside her on the bed, then sat next to her. “I was on the Internet last night and pulled up a list of houses for sale. How do you feel about moving?”
“You know I can’t leave Boston.”
“I don’t mean move away. Just give up the apartment. For the same money or even less we could lease a place with an option to purchase when my job situation sorts itself out. Someplace close to the hospital but with a little yard. Something more familylike.”
He could see her surprise. Planting roots in Boston was something he’d always resisted.
“I think that’s a fantastic idea,” she said, her eyes brightening.
“It’s what I’ve wanted all along. But you don’t have to do this…you know, out of pity.”
“That’s not it.” Guilt, maybe, but never pity .
“But you hate it here. Why the change of heart?”
“The time we’ve spent together, just you and me, since the accident. It’s made me realize that Boston is where you need to be for your career. Mine’s going nowhere anyway.”
“You’re as good as any lawyer in this town.”
“That’s not what the firm thinks. None of the partners have told me anything specific, but I can read the writing on the wall. They’re finally pushing me out.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh well. I was a fool to have thought I could break into an old Boston firm. A wasted five years. It’s not your fault, but I know I’ve been taking it out on you. That’s the reason I’ve been so distant lately.”
“If that’s really what was bothering you, I wish you would have
Similar Books
