Perfect Lie(5)

“Some of the guys are about to play poker, and I think the girls are breaking out the board games. I need you to help me cheat.” His dimples deepened in his cheeks as he grinned mischievously.

“I’m not going to help you cheat.” I slid off my bed and slipped on my Chuck Taylors, not bothering to tie them.

“I need a partner in crime,” he said.

“You need to stay out of trouble so you don’t end up in places like this.” I walked by him and into the hall, not wanting to be in there alone with him and risk getting in trouble.

“Last time I checked, you were locked up in this shithole too. That’s like the spoon calling itself a plate.”

I laughed so loudly that I had to cover my mouth with my hand, earning me a glare from one of the workers. “That’s not how the saying goes.”

“Then how does it go?” His hand nudged my side, and fire erupted in my veins, and it was all I could do to keep my knees from buckling. “The pot calling the kettle black. They’re both black, so it means someone is being a hypocrite.”

“Smart and beautiful. What’s not to love about you?” Brock winked again, and his arm looped over my shoulders casually.

“Brock Ryan!” a stern voice called from behind us.

Brock glanced over his shoulder between us and chuckled as he removed his arm and put some distance between us. “You’re gonna get me in trouble, Bird.”

“You’re the troublemaker, and my name is ‘Lie.’”

“I like ‘Bird.’ It suits you.”

My cheeks heated under his gaze, and I stared at the tiled floor, hoping he couldn’t see me blush. We stopped at the entrance to the main lounge as he glanced around.

“What’s your poison? You a card shark? You good at skimming off the top in Monopoly?” he joked.

“Actually I don’t play a lot of games. You kind of have to have friends to play with.”

“You got me, Bird.” His arm went back around my shoulders, and I tried to shrug him off but didn’t give it much effort. It was nice to have someone want to touch me. “Now pick something. I’ll teach you.”

“You’ll cheat.” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest.

“I’d never cheat with you, Lie. I promise. I’m a man of my word. Now pick a game before I pick for us.”

“Truth or dare.”

Brock’s jaw went slack, and his eyes widened slightly. “Oh…you have no idea how much fun this is going to be.”

“I’ll go first,” I told him. “Truth or dare?”

His eyes drifted over my body, and I tightened my arms over my chest, feeling exposed under his gaze. “I’ll go easy on you, Bird. Truth.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

He shrugged. “Why not?”

“Because no one is nice to me. What do you want?” I tried to sound like I didn’t care, but inside I was praying he wouldn’t hurt my feelings.

“I just want to get to know you.”

“Why?

“Why not?” he shot back, and I tried not to let my frustration get the best of me.

“Stop answering all my questions with questions. That’s not how you play the game.”

“I thought you didn’t know how to play any games.”

“Never mind.” I dropped my arms and turned away from him so I could go back to my room and be alone, but his fingers wrapped around my upper arm and stopped me in my tracks. I refused to turn around and face him because my sadness was lurking just below the surface, and I already felt like a fool. Seeing it reflected in his eyes would be too much.

“When I first saw you, you looked so sad.”

“That’s not your problem,” I snapped, and his hand fell from my arm.

“I know.” His hands ran over his hair as I turned back to face him. “Look, you remind me of someone I miss very much. She always looked so sad, and if someone had taken the time to see what was wrong…” His voice trailed off.

“Oh, I get it. I’m some wounded animal you think needs to be taken care of.” I didn’t mean to lose my temper, but it hurt to know I was developing a crush on this guy, and he saw me as a poor little victim.

“No, Bird.” He sighed and swallowed hard as he realized his nickname for me helped prove my point. “No, Lie. I don’t see you as someone who needs to be taken care of. I’m just trying to be your friend.”

As much as I could use a friend, I wanted Brock to be something more, and I knew now how stupid that was. God, I must have looked like such a pathetic little girl to him. “Helping me isn’t going to fix whoever it was that you didn’t help from your past. So stop wasting our time. I don’t need or want your help.” I turned back toward my room and walked under shaky legs. I had to force myself not to run and make a complete fool out of myself.