Read Online Sweet Little Lies by Michele Grant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michele Grant
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three idiot fiancés had figured out in years. That was scary.
He stood up and dragged me along with him.“So now are you freaking out?”
Again, he was too damn intuitive. I didn’t say anything and reached for the washcloth.
“‘Cause I’m still not in love with you and this is still not a date.”
“What is it, then?”
“Depends.Are you kicking me out after this shower, or can a brother finally get an omelet?” His tone was light and unconcerned.
I enjoyed his ability to defuse my neuroses with humor. I followed his lead and responded lightly. “You are go for omelets.”
“Then this is a weekend fling.”
“I don’t leave until Tuesday night.” Oops. Now that sounded like I wanted him to stick around until Tuesday.
He laughed.“Then this is a five-day fling. After which we kiss and say good-bye. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
10
Riding the Wave
Steven—Saturday, August 15, 7:43 p.m.
C hristina was in the living room playing Xbox with two of my roommates. I was rifling through my suitcase in my bedroom. The apartment in Morningside Heights was a three bedroom, spacious by New York standards. It was in a prewar building with exposed brick, refurbished hardwoods, and wonder of wonders—new plumbing. I don’t like to think about how much of my savings I sunk into the down payment on this place. As it was, I had found three roommates to split expenses with. Jimmy, a fast-talking brother, was one of them. He was talking my ear off now.
“Man, she’s gotta have a single friend or two in the city she can hook us up with!?”
I was beginning to think that swinging by my apartment with Christina in tow was not a good idea. The fellas were clowning.You would think they hadn’t seen a pretty girl with brains and personality before. “I told you she’s just out here a few days, and then she’s heading back to the Bay Area. She’s about business, not hooking you knuckleheads up.”
“Just sayin’ it wouldn’t kill you to ask.” Jimmy was alsostarting at Columbia as an MBA candidate. He was also a Midwest guy, from St. Louis, and we liked each other immediately when we’d met at the preview weekend months ago. He wasn’t the best-looking brother in the bunch, but he had that personality and sense of humor that won over people easily.
“Please act like you’ve seen a good-looking girl before.” I opened up a second suitcase, trying to find something suitable to wear to this party Christina invited me to. Record industry, rap stars, finance folks. I was thinking dark jeans and long-sleeve, lightweight shirt. Casual without trying too hard.
“Plenty of those—this here’s a woman who has her act to-gether.We could use some upgraded femininity around these parts.”
I wondered how Christina would take being referred to as “upgraded femininity.” She would probably launch a scathing comeback and then laugh about it.“Oh I see, this is about you trying to get on that come-up with a pimp move. Nice.”
“Pimpin’ ain’t easy. Easiest way to reach the top is by getting a hand up, my brother.”
I clapped Jimmy on the back.“Good luck with that. Listen, she and I are just hanging for a few days. So I’ll be right out there with you forging my own come-up as well.”
“Y’all just hanging out, you say?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s not the vibe I’m tracking, young Steven.”
“What is it you think you know, son?”
He wiggled his shoulders and wagged his brows. “I ain’t Dr. Phil or nothing, just saying you two feel like more than a bump and run.”
“Well, tuck your feelings away there, Oprah.This is what it is.” I tossed a few more things in a garment bag and was turning toward the door when Christina walked in from the living room. When a woman makes you want, and she’s wearing shorts and a T-shirt, you know you’re in trouble.
“S. Dub. It took me zero time at all to beat down your boysin Madden. Are you in here sewing apparel from scratch? What’s the
He stood up and dragged me along with him.“So now are you freaking out?”
Again, he was too damn intuitive. I didn’t say anything and reached for the washcloth.
“‘Cause I’m still not in love with you and this is still not a date.”
“What is it, then?”
“Depends.Are you kicking me out after this shower, or can a brother finally get an omelet?” His tone was light and unconcerned.
I enjoyed his ability to defuse my neuroses with humor. I followed his lead and responded lightly. “You are go for omelets.”
“Then this is a weekend fling.”
“I don’t leave until Tuesday night.” Oops. Now that sounded like I wanted him to stick around until Tuesday.
He laughed.“Then this is a five-day fling. After which we kiss and say good-bye. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
10
Riding the Wave
Steven—Saturday, August 15, 7:43 p.m.
C hristina was in the living room playing Xbox with two of my roommates. I was rifling through my suitcase in my bedroom. The apartment in Morningside Heights was a three bedroom, spacious by New York standards. It was in a prewar building with exposed brick, refurbished hardwoods, and wonder of wonders—new plumbing. I don’t like to think about how much of my savings I sunk into the down payment on this place. As it was, I had found three roommates to split expenses with. Jimmy, a fast-talking brother, was one of them. He was talking my ear off now.
“Man, she’s gotta have a single friend or two in the city she can hook us up with!?”
I was beginning to think that swinging by my apartment with Christina in tow was not a good idea. The fellas were clowning.You would think they hadn’t seen a pretty girl with brains and personality before. “I told you she’s just out here a few days, and then she’s heading back to the Bay Area. She’s about business, not hooking you knuckleheads up.”
“Just sayin’ it wouldn’t kill you to ask.” Jimmy was alsostarting at Columbia as an MBA candidate. He was also a Midwest guy, from St. Louis, and we liked each other immediately when we’d met at the preview weekend months ago. He wasn’t the best-looking brother in the bunch, but he had that personality and sense of humor that won over people easily.
“Please act like you’ve seen a good-looking girl before.” I opened up a second suitcase, trying to find something suitable to wear to this party Christina invited me to. Record industry, rap stars, finance folks. I was thinking dark jeans and long-sleeve, lightweight shirt. Casual without trying too hard.
“Plenty of those—this here’s a woman who has her act to-gether.We could use some upgraded femininity around these parts.”
I wondered how Christina would take being referred to as “upgraded femininity.” She would probably launch a scathing comeback and then laugh about it.“Oh I see, this is about you trying to get on that come-up with a pimp move. Nice.”
“Pimpin’ ain’t easy. Easiest way to reach the top is by getting a hand up, my brother.”
I clapped Jimmy on the back.“Good luck with that. Listen, she and I are just hanging for a few days. So I’ll be right out there with you forging my own come-up as well.”
“Y’all just hanging out, you say?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s not the vibe I’m tracking, young Steven.”
“What is it you think you know, son?”
He wiggled his shoulders and wagged his brows. “I ain’t Dr. Phil or nothing, just saying you two feel like more than a bump and run.”
“Well, tuck your feelings away there, Oprah.This is what it is.” I tossed a few more things in a garment bag and was turning toward the door when Christina walked in from the living room. When a woman makes you want, and she’s wearing shorts and a T-shirt, you know you’re in trouble.
“S. Dub. It took me zero time at all to beat down your boysin Madden. Are you in here sewing apparel from scratch? What’s the
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