“Because they can’t afford a room to rent in this preposterously expensive city!” I gesture to the buildings belting in the Commons. “Because they enjoy the nomadic lifestyle! Why do his living arrangements bother you?”
“Because he’s probably dating you to get access to your money!”
Falling off the bridge all those years ago hurt less than Malachi’s retort.
I back up, moisture piling up in my eyes. “You’re right. Why else would anyone want to date a girl like me?”
“Elle, that’s not?—”
I raise my palm to silence whatever excuse he’s trying to come up with. And then I run.
Malachi must sense he overstepped, because he doesn’t chase after me with another apology. Or maybe he doesn’t follow because he doesn’t care enough to catch me.
Guilt must eat at him, though, because the phone I’ve slipped into the thigh pocket of my leggings vibrates incessantly. I only learn it’s not Malachi when I step into my high-rise’s elevator and finally check my notifications.
DORIAN:You’re dating the Zumba coach? When did this happen?
DORIAN:Elle?
DORIAN:Can you please pick up the phone?
DORIAN:If you don’t call me back, I’m sending Diego to check on you.
As the elevator ascends to my family’s eighty-fifth-floor Penthouse, my thoughts spiral like a siren light.
ME:I was out running. I’m fine. Hope Diego isn’t on his way.
DORIAN:He was just about to get in the car.
ME:Tell him I’m home safe.
DORIAN:Since when have you been seeing Lowry?
ME:Since he asked me out last night.
DORIAN:And you just said yes?
ME:Why would I say no?
He doesn’t reply immediately. I’ve evidently stumped him, unless… What if he’s trying to find the right words to tell me he knows about my crush on Malachi?
DORIAN:Because you don’t date.
ME:I do. I just don’t broadcast it.
DORIAN:Who?
ME:Some guys in college.
DORIAN:I want names.
Lying makes my blood prickle, yet I pursue my charade because Dorian will have a lot to say about the truth, which is that I’ve never dated anyone because my fucking heart has always been set on Malachi.
Perhaps I should’ve dated other men.
Perhaps I should date a real guy instead of fake-date Cillian Lowry.
ME:Don’t you have some Holy Hunter to gut or something?
