Hidden by Lies by Rachel Caid

Author:Rachel Caid [Caid, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rachel Caid
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Roman

Shoulda, coulda, wouldas run through my mind as I lie on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

I should have told Pearl who Gia was and made it clear I have no interest in her. Then, maybe, she wouldn’t have stormed off. She wouldn’t have left me. But seeing that glimmer of jealousy, that hint of possessiveness hiding just beneath the surface? That’s worth whatever work it’ll take to clear the air between us.

I could have chased after her. God knows I wanted to, but I didn’t want us to fight. I wonder now if she needed me to fight ... but for her instead of against her.

I would have frozen time, held her there against that brick wall kissing with more passion than I ever thought possible, if I had the power. She gave me so much in those few moments—proof of her attraction, confirmation of how well we fit together, and a memory to last until I can convince her to do it again.

It helps that she’s with my sister. If Pearl won’t give me the chance to explain, Claire won’t give her a chance not to listen. My sister has my back one hundred percent. Even when I’m being a dick, which happens a lot when it comes to Pearl. Something about that woman short-circuits my brain and makes rational thinking impossible.

Out of excuses and patience not to, I grab my phone and reach out to her.

Me: Sorry about Gia. Wish you would have let me explain.

I can see that she’s read it, but there’s no response. Minutes tick by and my thumbs hover over the screen, ready to beg for some sort of sign she’s still speaking to me. I set the phone on my nightstand and press my face against the pillow, praying for sleep to overtake me.

Ping.

Pretty Pearl: Claire did. It’s fine.

Short, sweet, and in no way comforting.

Me: You’re sure? I want us to be ok, back to normal.

Pretty Pearl: Yeah.

Shit, she might as well have just typed “k” to drive home the fact that her answering me is based on common courtesy, not her need to connect. But fortunately for me, I do have that need. So I press on.

Me: I’m sorry we were interrupted.

Pretty Pearl: It’s probably for the best. It was inappropriate.

Me: You’re right. I don’t really want any asshole on the street to see us practically ducking against a building.

Pretty Pearl: They should have been watching for aliens.

What the hell?

Me: Aliens?

Pretty Pearl: Why else are you ducking? I assumed alien invasion.

This woman; sweet, beautiful, smart, and makes alien jokes. If I didn’t have a raging hard-on for her before, I sure as fuck do now.

***

“Griff’s playing like shit, Zay. Where the hell is his head?”

Isaiah shifts uncomfortably on the bleachers, watching the game under the Friday night lights. He’s irritated like I am because we’re unable to walk down to the sidelines and knock some sense into my brother.

“I don’t know. You’d think he’d be on fire for the first game of the season.

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