“You missed me.” Grey took a step closer. “Plus, you probably have questions.”
“I do. You’re a man, right?” I tilted my head, assessing him from head to toe, his handsome face, broad chest, toned thighs, and legs from years of running, enjoying the quiet sexual tension between us. Just enough to titillate me.
“I am.” Amused, he replied as he took another step closer to me. His heated gaze roamed my body.
“Then answer my question simply and plainly.”
Grey frowned as he rocked slightly, waiting for my question.
“Why does a man hide something from his woman?”
Grey replied without thought, “Because whatever he’s hiding, he doesn’t want to stop, or he doesn’t want to lose his woman.”
“That simple?”
“Yeah. Once he tells her his secret, he’s stopped or wants to stop. If he doesn’t tell or gets caught, he wants to continue. Or maybe he has stopped and telling her now makes him a liar to his woman.”
I folded my arms. “Isn’t he a liar for holding on to a secret in the first place?”
He arched a brow. “Technically, only if he's asked about it and denies it."
"I hate when men do that. A lie is a lie."
Grey rebutted, "No. A lie is a statement made. Are you lying to Carter by being here with me?”
“No.”
“You sure? Because you know I want you, and I’m sure Carter knows that.” He took another step closer. “Did you tell him you were coming to see me, knowing we're tempting fate by being around each other?”
“No, because I'm not tempting fate. I wanted to see you, and I'm here.” I lifted my chin higher. I had no guilt or qualms about being here with Grey. If we decided to fuck, we did.
“Are you lying to yourself right now?”
“No.” I smiled.
“Then you have your answer. What applies in that man's situation applies to your current one with me.”
I crossed my hands behind my back. “I told Carter I saw you on my birthday, and I’m standing here right now, not wanting to stop. See, not that simple.”
“I bet you told him in anger. I doubt you would’ve told him if everything was good between you and him. You were trying to piss him off. Or you don't give a fuck if you lose him.” His eyes zeroed on my lips. “Any other questions you need a man to answer?”
“Can a man like Carter be faithful?”
“You mean a man like me?” He kept his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. “I’m not much different than Carter.”
I quirked a brow. “I thought you said you were a better man?”
“I am in regard to you. I mistakenly thought he was the better man back then because he offered what you wanted. But he was no more ready than I was to fully commit to a woman. To answer your question, any man, even men like Carter and me, can be faithful if he wants to be.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets. “When you didn’t talk about what happened with you and Chelsea, I assumed everything you needed to know was answered.”
“You don’t want to know what happened? Why?” I asked and crossed my arms.
He snorted. “Don’t lump me in with them. I’m not lying to you or withholding information about anything now. I don’t know shit beyond what happened in college and that Carter is her son’s godfather.”
“Chelsea told me you knew she was pregnant and that you knew she had been with Carter the night before my birthday.” I accused.
“Yeah, and? That was in college, right?” His expression was unguarded, open, and expectant.
“Why didn’t you tell me all that you knew about Carter? I was vulnerable the night I lost my virginity.”
