Deceiving Lies (Forgiving Lies 2)

Candice looked at Maddie with an expectant expression. “Exactly.”

“What is this about?” I asked.

“We’ve been fighting over who gets to babysit Trip while you and Kash are on your honeymoon,” Maddie responded. “I think I should get to, since I’m the one who led you to him. Technically I led Kash, and then you. But, you know.”

“And I think I should get to, since I don’t actually live here and won’t be able to see him whenever I want, once I go back to California. Well, and because I’ve known you forever.” Candice sat back in her chair and crossed her arms like she knew she’d won.

“Hmm, both valid arguments,” I mused.

“What? Hers didn’t even make sense!” Candice said at the same time Maddie laughed. “She’s using her time of knowing you as her argument. So not fair.”

“I was being sarcastic. Both those arguments sucked,” I said and drummed my fingers on the table. “You both sounded ridiculous, but why don’t you both babysit him? One day at Mason’s, the next at Maddie’s.”

“Well—” Candice began, but I cut her off.

“We’re not even really going anywhere. We’ll still be in town, and it’s only two days. So this way you each have a day, and we’ll pick him up

from Maddie’s on our way home.”

“I guess that works.” Maddie sniffed as though she wasn’t happy with it.

“I don’t see how neither of you came up with that before. You really thought you had to have me choose who got him for that time?”

Despite Maddie’s hate for Candice the first few weeks, they were just alike. Well, if you didn’t count Maddie being Candice’s opposite in looks. Their personalities were the same, and as I sat there watching them defend their arguments to each other, I realized that must have been why Maddie and I had gotten along so well when I first moved here.

My phone vibrated and I looked down at it.

KASH:

I’m home, where’s my Sour Patch?

Café with Maddie and Candice. I’m coming home now.

“I’m tired, guys. I think I’m going to go home and take a nap.”

Candice gasped and Maddie snapped before pointing at me. “I knew there was something wrong.”

I paused from putting my phone in my purse and eyed them curiously. “Meaning . . . ?”

“You’re tired,” Candice answered for her.

“Yeah, and . . . ?”

“So there was something wrong. You weren’t normal Rachie.”

I laughed and stood up. “You’re both just crazy today. Maybe I’m being perfectly normal, and there’s something wrong with you.” Before they could say anything, I blew a loud, ridiculous kiss toward them and hurried to the door. “Love you two, see you later.”

I sped the entire way home and practically ran into the house. Launching myself at Kash, I kissed him hard and wrapped my legs around his waist as he laughed against my mouth.

“Well, hello. I missed you too.”

I smiled and kissed him again. “Take me to bed, babe.”

He pulled back to study my face. “Bed? It’s four in the afternoon. Do you still feel sick from this morning?”

Curling my hands around the back of his neck, I pressed against him harder and watched his gray eyes become hooded. Grinning to myself when he began walking us toward the bedroom, I thought about Candice and Maddie as I said, “Nope. I’m just fine.”

Kash