Page 11 of Burning Deceptions
Ash
Depends.
I chuckled and typed a response, letting her know it wouldn’t necessitate any specific ID.
Ash
I have to make sure my cousin leaves safely, but after that …
No pressure. We were interrupted earlier, and I figured we could get a bite to eat or a coffee.
Ash
You had me at food. The stuff here was such a tease.
There’s a hamburger place not too far from here that stays open late.
Ash
Send the details, and I’ll meet you.
I returned to the event, skirted my mother at all costs, and searched for William. Perhaps Ashley would be a new friend to add to my limited circle. If she remained as outspoken and brave in the face of my mother, then maybe some of that would rub off on me too.
Okay,itwasofficial.Thiswas the worst idea I’d ever had.
Luke had sent the address to a place near the venue that stayed open until midnight. Thankfully, my costume was low-key, but the devilgirleveryone might take me as was going to be so out of place with Luke’s distinguished gentleman sex appeal.
Why had he asked me out?
No. Why the fuck had I accepted? I had to tell him the truth. But … Jesus, what would that even sound like.
Oh, hey, thanks for the invite. Bee-tee-dubs, I’m a guy. That’s still cool, right? Yeah, let’s eat.
Ha. No. Shit would not be that smooth.
My phone chimed as I pulled into the full lot. I parked in the back before taking a deep breath and checking the message.
Luke
I’m out front.
“I shouldn’t do this. I should not do this.” But I’d said yes, and I didn’t want to stand him up. That’d be the worst. “No. Don’t be a dick.” I opened my door and stood, straightening my dress asI coached myself. “Eat, discreetly take these heels off under the table, and let him see we’re wrong for each other. There won’t be any reason to keep this lie going for long.”
The walk toward the bright lights at the front doors wasn’t nearly long enough to calm my nerves with heavy doses of cold air and the pep talk.
Exactly where he said he’d be, Luke stood off to one side, out of the flow of foot traffic going in and out, and scrolled on his phone. Definitely not an anxious man watching the crowd for the date he hoped would be a good time.
Holy shitballs, he was fine as fuck. A tall drink of water, Momma would’ve said. He’d taken off his jacket, looking a bit more casual in his vest and rolled sleeves. He must’ve run his fingers through his dark, gelled hair, leaving it a little softer. Was he nervous?
I chuckled at how mismatched we were in so many ways, and that was what ultimately gave me the courage to keep moving forward. We’d find out soon enough this wasn’t going to work. He’d go back to his formal life and snooty momma, and I’d go back to college and hopefully hook up with nameless strangers until I figured out what I wanted.
Luke wouldn’t be a victim of my lie.
He’d never know I wasn’t a girl because it’d never get that far.
“Luke?”
He turned at his name, then did a double take and a slow scan to my toes. Just when I thought he’d accuse me of catfishing him—because seriously, love you, Savannah, but I’m a man in a dress—he grinned and pocketed his phone.
