Page 47 of The Fake Out

“I can’t help it. I forgot to tell you the most ridiculous part.”

“What?”

“His dad didn’t know we were there.”

She gave me a confused look.

“He still lives at home.”

“Really? On his salary?”

I nodded. “I don’t think it’s a money thing. I think Blaise worries about his dad, but he didn’t want to tell me that.”

I noticed Blaise walk into the bar last night, but before he walked over to me, I saw him in a heated conversation with Hal. They disappeared behind the employee's only door for a few minutes, but then Blaise snuck up behind me and got needy about wanting to leave. Something had been bothering him, but I wasn’t his girlfriend, so it hadn’t been my business to ask.

“Hmm. So what happened? Was Hal pissed?” Liv asked.

She knew about my mental breakdown at Eileen’s Tavern because I called her to come get me. She’d met Hal at the bar before and knew he was protective of me.

“Nope. It’s worse.”

“What do you mean worse?”

“He made a joke about ‘hearing’ me.”

Her mouth hung open. “No…”

“Yes.”

“What did you do?”

“Nothing! I had to jet for that no-show interview. I wanted to melt into the floor, though. How will I ever look Hal in the eye?”

“Was Blaise embarrassed?”

“No. He didn’t seem to care.”

She shrugged and pointed to the dressing room door. “Go get the rejects. I think this is the one.”

I went into the dressing room and changed back into my street clothes. It surprised me she didn’t make me try on eighty-thousand more. The black dress was perfect, and I looked hot in it. I’d show up at Seth’s wedding with my head held high to prove to him that my life was better without him. I wanted to prove to him that abandoning me didn’t change me, even though it did. Even though he made me scared to open myself up to love again.

Liv helped me put the rejected dresses back where we found them, and she linked her arm with mine. “I’m glad we could do this today. You’re working too hard lately.”

“Hey, anyway, what are they doing without a shop manager today?” I asked.

It was a Saturday, and that was a busy day for the shop.

“Eds and Alex were fine when I told them what was up. They can manage without me for a day,” she explained as we walked to the shoe department.

No, they couldn’t. A good tattoo shop could be made or broken by a shop manager. Liv was amazing at keeping our shit together. That’s why we stole her from my last shop.

Liv walked over to the display of a pair of black wedge heels. “These won’t hurt as much as a stiletto.”

I groaned. Why couldn’t I wear my docs or chucks all the time instead?

“I hate wearing heels.”

She sighed and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know, honey, but Blaise is huge. He’ll tower over you when you’re dancing.”