“I think I’m going to run to the ladies’ room, I’ll be right back,” I announce.
Leaving the room, I can’t help but feel a familiar pit in my stomach. A feeling of impending doom.
And five minutes later when I return, I see Spencer talking with my mom. It isn’t the "charm the girlfriend's mother" type of mood between them either, it seems to be more serious.
“It’s your decision.” My mother’s voice is the last I hear as they both notice me, and their posture changes. They give one another a confirming look and throw on smiles.
“Everything okay?” I ask just as Spencer brings his arm around me for a side hug.
He smiles weakly at me. “It’s fine. The game is almost over. We’re in the lead, so we can escape now if you want, before it gets busy.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Enjoy your evening, you two. Don’t forget to nail down those holiday plans, then we can schedule when to meet,” my mother reminds us before hugging me.
Searching for Piper and Hudson, I see they are busy talking with someone, probably my uncle’s lawyer. They both wave to us, and Piper blows me a kiss before indicating with her fingers to call her.
“Bye, Mom,” I say.
Stepping back, Spencer takes my hand in his and leads the way. Security offers us a different way out to avoid the crowd, and the entire walk feels like something has shifted.
The car ride back to my place is no different, and by the time we get into my apartment, I can’t take it because he is what I want, and I thought I’ve been clear, but that also means I will be shattered if he doesn’t feel the same way.
I throw the keys onto my kitchen counter and turn to Spencer. “If you want to break up then do it now, this silence is excruciating.”
Spencer looks at me like I’m crazy and steps to me, quickly interlinking our fingers. “Why in the world do you think that?”
I don’t look into his eyes. “Because you’ve been acting strange. Especially since Hadley upgraded me in the friend book, you’ve been… I don’t know. Something is on your mind.”
I notice his chest rising as he heaves a sigh. “I heard what you said.” My eyes shoot up to meet his. “About how lies are your red flag.”
“And?”
Nerves seem to flood his face. “I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you…”
“Tell me what?” I feel that pit in my stomach crawl up inside of me, reaching my chest and causing my throat to strain. I hate fear.
“I want to be honest.”
“About what?” I feel like I may throw up.
Spencer glances away then looks down at our hands entwined together. “I lied about the video.”
I drop our hands like a hot tamale. “What?”
“I mean partially. My cloud was hacked and the video was on it, it’s just that it didn’t take as long to be solved.” I can tell he is biting his inner cheek.
“But you had me stay with you when we hated each other.” I’m trying to grasp what this all means.
“At first it was true, but I might have delayed telling you some important details.” He pinches his nose, unsure where to look.
I weave my fingers through my hair as I attempt to put the puzzle pieces together. “What details?”
“It was solved already the day we went to Pioneer Park.”
I feel my eyes go bold. “But you only said a week later that the situation was solved.”
Finally, he looks up at me with guilt flooding his face. “I know. The call I got at Pioneer Park wasn’t my agent, it was Celeste from your mother’s law firm to confirm.”
