The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

“Thank you,” I said again, trying to inject some kindness in my tone.

Her lips slowly raised into a smile. “That was better.” Pointing up toward the house, she asked, “Breakfast?”

“Sure.” I shrugged, starting that way. “What do you have in mind?” I was trying to be nice, and from her answering smile it appeared I was succeeding.

“Egg sandwiches?” She raised a questioning brow.

“Sounds good to me.”

We reached the house, and I propped my board outside against the siding and stripped out of my wetsuit, leaving me in my board shorts. I thought Ari had gone inside, but when I picked up my wetsuit, I saw that she was still standing there staring at me with an open mouth.

“Like what you see?” I waved a hand from my face down to my chest.

She nodded and then quickly shook her head. “S-Sorry,” she stuttered, before running inside as fast as she could.

I chuckled under my breath and shook my head. Ari was definitely as frightened by our mutual attraction as I was.

I took my wetsuit over to the hose and rinsed it off. I fixed it onto the hanger and carried it inside to the bathroom where I let them dry.

Ari was already busy in the kitchen and barely acknowledged my presence when I passed.

I jogged upstairs to my room to shower, and in no time I was changing into a pair of khaki pants, a gray t-shirt, and a beanie. I didn’t have much variety in my clothes; I liked what I liked and that was it.

When I stepped into the kitchen, Ari had finished making our breakfast. The plates were sitting on the raised bar counter while she poured us glasses of ice water.

“Smells good,” I commented. I was going to try my best to be nice. We’d see how long it lasted. I was betting on five minutes. If that. The urge to pick on her like a boy with a schoolyard crush would overcome me soon enough.

I took a seat, and a moment later Ari sat down beside me.

“I don’t go

into work until this afternoon, so I thought I’d clean the house.”

“I clean,” I stated, looking at her like she’d lost her mind. My neat-freak status rung loud and clear the moment she walked in the door. Ollie thought it was hilarious, so he always liked to dirty the place up any time he came by. He especially liked to streak his Cheeto-covered fingers over the walls.

“I know,” she shrugged, picking up her sandwich, “but you don’t make me pay rent, so it feels wrong to contribute nothing. So, I’m cleaning.”

“I’m sure I could find something more helpful for you to do.” I took a bite of my sandwich and waited for her response.

She raised a brow. “Like what?”

I thought for a moment. “Alphabetize the cereal boxes.”

She choked on her bite of sandwich. When I didn’t crack a smile or laugh, she gasped, “You’re serious?”

“Of course. I take my cereal organization very seriously. It’s currently sorted by color in case you hadn’t noticed. ROYGBIV for life…or not life, since it’s really beginning to bug me. I think alphabetical order will make me feel much better.”

Her mouth parted, and she looked at me in shock. “You’re actually serious.”

I nodded. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

She shook her head and laughed under her breath. “Okay, sure. I’ll alphabetize the cereal.”

“After that you can wash my underwear.”

She paled. “No way in hell am I going anywhere near your underwear.”

“I was kidding.” I cracked a smile. “I am capable of joking now and then. Although, it is rare.”