Started With a Lie

Chapter Nineteen

            I look over at Mark as his eyes widen. “Shut up, Lee! We didn’t live together, you asshole! Stop lying to Mark.” My eyes go back to Mark. “He just sheltered me because—um—of an incident. It’s not what you think.”

            “But…aren’t you guys together? Well were together?” Mark asks. “I thought you guys were together but broke up. And now Lee’s moved on and has a new fiancé?” 

            Oh yeah, Mark doesn’t know that the only reason I said Lee was my boyfriend was because I needed him for Karen. Now that it was resolved, I don’t need Lee anymore.  And he doesn’t need me. He made it pretty clear with his secret fiancé.

            I should tell Mark the truth. He seemed like a good guy. He could possibly even help me move on from that tiny, disgusting crush I had on Lee. “Um, actually—”

            “That’s exactly what happened,” Lee interrupts. I snap my head towards him. This bitch, I think.

            I glare at him as I pull Lee down the driveway alone. “Hold on Mark,” I tell him as I pull Lee to privacy. When we’re far enough, I roughly tug his arm. “What the hell are you doing? I think I should tell Mark the truth about us.”

            Lee’s eyes narrow. “Why would you want to do that, Miss Ivory?”

            I stand on my tip-toes and glare. “Because…he’s. My. Friend.”

            “Really now?” Lee says. “What? Do you have a thing for him?”

            “So what if I do!” I yell. “It’s my choice to tell him anyway. It doesn’t effect you in any way!” I cross my arms, waiting for a response. “Wait a minute. The only reason you want to stay is because you have an undying hate for Mark for some weird reason and you just want to be here to piss him off! Isn’t that right?”

            Lee takes a deep breath and looks away. He licks his lips before turning back to me. “Listen, Ivory, I’m sorry about what happened. Let me explain about Penny.”

            “You don’t have to explain to me about Penny,” I manage through my teeth. “I’m just a school girl that took advantage of you for herself and it seems you did the same. We’re both sinners. It’s not like we actually cared for one another, right?” I stare until he nods. My heart chips a little. “Great. Now you can leave me alone.”

            I turn on my heel and go back to Mark.

            “So what’s going on?” Mark asks as Lee walks back to my side.

            “I’m still moving in,” Lee answers for me. I smack my forehead with my hand. Did he not just understand what I just said? I told him to leave me alone but no, it seems I’m not speaking English today. “I’ll be moving in with Ivory.”

            “Excuse me?” I exclaim. “Why are you moving with me?”

            “Because I think it’ll be safer for you to have me around and also I could be more of a help,” Lee says. A help? Since when was he ever a help? Last time he stayed over during the blizzard, he refused to help me clean up.

            “Then I’m moving in too!” Mark says, crossing his arms. “I don’t think Ivory should be alone with a man in her own home. Especially one she obviously does not want inside her home. I’ll get my things right now.”

            “But—” I try to say but both men just head in different directions. Lee heads up to my front door as Mark goes back into his house to get his things. And that is how I landed two men under my roof without even meaning to.