I squint my eyes. “And in New York, they pretend to be snakes to scare them off?”
“Indeed.” Raven nods.
“Liar, liar. Pants on fire,” Griffin sings like we’re back in third grade.
“I’m no such thing, Griffin Montgomery,” Raven shoots back as her eyes turn to slits.
I’m not a fan of liars. Never have been. But I get the feeling Raven isn’t lying to gain something. This seems more like a lie of necessity.
Raven glances down at me. My hands are resting on her thighs, and I’m still between them.
“Oh, look! You’re done. Thanks! I feel all better, Dr. Montgomery.” Raven places her hand on my shoulder to guide me backward and give her space. Instead, I stand up and put my hands on her waist, lifting her up off the bar and setting her on her feet on the floor.
“Oh. A doctor and a gentleman,” Raven teases.
Griffin scoffs behind me.
“I’ll be whatever you need me to be, Darlin’,” I tease back with a wink.
An adorable pink hue brightens her cheeks as her eyes widen.
Raven clears her throat again. “Well, this has been fun! But it’s late. See y’all tomorrow!” She snatches her purse and is out the door before we can say bye.
We’re left behind like a pair of monkeys scratching their heads. Griffin steps up to my side, and we both continue staring at the door, dumbfounded.
“Did you believe…” I start.
“Nope.” Griffin pops his lips like Raven did earlier.
“She said…”
“Y’all.” Griffin nods.
“So, New York…”
“A lie,” he confirms.
“Are we gonna…”
“Yep,” Griffin confirms again.
“Glad to see we’re on the same page.”
“Always.”
My ride homefrom the bar was short-lived. I need the open road. I need the wind whipping around my body as I breeze down the pavement. I need that reset.
But today was not the day, and tonight is not the night.
Griffin got home about thirty minutes before me. I’m sure he’s asleep by now. That man can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, and he sleeps like the dead.
I drop the keys to my bike on the little table as I trudge through the entryway. My boots practically dragging across the plain-tiled floor, and I stomp my way up the stairs to my bedroom. When I walk through the first door on the left, my bedroom, I begin shedding my clothes.
Stripping all the way down to nothing, I fall into bed, groaning. Sometimes, I wonder how much longer I can keepdoing these extensive workdays. I’ve lived a life that hasn’t been easy. It’s been brutal to my body. So when I lie down in my bed at night, every bone, joint, and muscle cries in relief.
“What a day,” I say to myself. And what a day it was indeed.
Raven’s soft moans and sighs have been playing in my head on repeat. It’s a soundtrack I never want to lose.
