Wow. Okay. Did he think that was news to me?
Folk:I know. And I already said yes.
Thinking it over, I tapped out some more before Decoy could start typing.
Folk:I don’t have to be in the house. I can be outside and she’ll never know I’m there.
Decoy:that wasn’t what I was gonna ask
Folk:Okay... hit me.
Decoy:my ex is never gonna go for a random brother sleeping in the spare room. she’ll use it against me, say my place is a doss house or some shit
I could still taste that woman’s acrid perfume on the back of my tongue. Despite the shower I’d taken, I felt grimy for sharing oxygen with her.
Folk:What do you need?
A pause stretched out. Three dots popped up and went away again. I gave Decoy room to think and dropped my phone on my bare chest, giving my hands a break. Too wired to doze off, or so I thought until the obnoxious buzz of my phone roused me.
Decoy:lauren’s had a bunch of different men pass through her home since we split. it means she doesn’t have a leg to stand on if i have a legit partner living with me... like rubi said. i know it’s messed up, and i’m still freaked out about lying to my kid, but i don’t see another way to keep her safe
I read the message, the thrum of my heart getting louder as the words sank in.A legit partner.As in...
My mind rewound to the handful of conversations we’d had about it. One sentence played on repeat.“You want to sleep in my bed?”
Yes.
More than anything.
Then my genius contribution to that particular discussion came clattering back to me. “If we do this, we should probably put a lid on the past for the time being. We can’t be fake lovers and experimenters at the same time.”
I mean, it was still true. But I’d never regretted two sentences more.
I’d left Decoy hanging. I needed to answer him without sounding scarily enthusiastic. And if I wasn’t likely to see him before I rocked up at his house for a slumber party, I also had to tell him about my encounter with Lauren.
Folk:Whatever you need, I’m there. But... I need to tell you something...
I filled him in before he could worry I had any dodgy habits he wouldn’t want in his house and ended the tale with an apology.
Folk:Sorry, man. It never occurred to me that Ivy would see me. Or that her mum would say that stuff in front of her.
Decoy’s reply came fast.
Decoy:lauren says that about every brother she’s ever met. not sure how she’s gonna react to her worst joke coming true, but i’ll handle it. sorry she was rude to you.
Decoy:also that ivy screeched at u in public. she has no chill.
Folk:Chill is overrated. Are you going to talk to Ivy before I come over?
Decoy:yeah. and lauren, maybe, but not until ivy’s with me, or she might keep her.
Anger flared in my heart, an emotion I’d conditioned myself to contain, but yet my sore hands shook as I replied.
Folk:If you need me to do or say anything specific, just let me know. I’m yours to mould into the perfect fake lover
Decoy sent me a laughing emoji. Then followed it up.
Decoy:pretty sure you’re perfect already.
