Page 42 of The Lies That Shatter
I take a deep breath and pretend it’s Finn sitting in front of me. I’ve been dreaming of the day we can have a coffee date, like it’s the most normal thing in the world. No more hiding, no more pretending, no more lies. Just him and me, forever.
I don’t take my eyes off Ethan, even as a shadow descends over the table, and Mel’s telltale clicky shoes approach. “McKenna, I thought that was you. Sorry for interrupting your…date. But I just had to come over and introduce myself,” she says, before turning her attention to Ethan, who is looking at her with a stern expression. “Hi, I’m Melanie Whitlock, McKenna’s boss.”
She holds out her perfectly manicured hand to Ethan as she gives him her best fake grin. Somehow, he manages to school his features, giving her a tight smile that doesn’t even expose his dimples. It’s clear in his stern gaze that he’s not happy at this woman for interrupting us.
“Hi, I’m Ethan, McKenna’s boyfriend. I’ve heard a lot about how much she loves her job, particularly your father,” he says, making it sound like we talk about my work all the time—which, I guess if we were really dating, we would!
“Yes, well…she’s…good…at her job. While you’ve heard so much about me, I know nothing about you,” she says, not able to keep the disdain from her lips. It sounds painful for her to pay me a compliment.
Ethan looks over at me before raising my arm so he can kiss the back of my hand affectionately. “McKenna is very professional. She doesn’t like to mix business and pleasure.”
The emphasis he places on the last word has tingles running down my spine, and I’m not even attracted to the guy. I can tell Ethan’s a lady’s man, and God help any woman he sets his sights on because I imagine he’s a hard one to ignore.
Mel must have picked up on his tone too, as a slight blush spreads across her cheeks while she openly checks out Ethan, her gaze raking over his toned body. I want to be outraged—not just for me and Ethan, but for Finn too, who is obviously the last thing on her mind right now—but I can’t seem to care.
I’ve always known Mel is a dangerous, self-absorbed bitch, and as soon as I prove it to Finn, we’ll be able to take her down alongside her husband.
“Nonsense. I like to get to know my staff, and their…friends. I think it makes me a better boss.”
If she could have air-quoted the wordfriend,without coming across as an even bigger bitch, I’m sure she would have. Her comment is so far from the truth, I’m struggling to hold in my sarcastic laugh. She never gets to know her staff, seeing us as beneath her.
The way she looks between me and Ethan makes it clear she thinks he’s totally out of my league.
When it becomes evident that neither of us has anything to say to her obvious interruption, she continues. “So, how long have you two been together?”
My eyes widen slightly in panic, wondering what the hell we’re supposed to say. It’s not like we had time to come up with the perfect backstory, to make sure that what we both say aligns with real life. I was definitely not made for undercover work and lying on the fly. Ethan, on the other hand, positively was, as he doesn’t even hesitate.
“I’m actually the reason McKenna moved here. We met about a year ago when she was here visiting a friend. We did the whole long distance relationship for a while, and then we couldn’t bear to be apart anymore. So when her last job finished, I asked her to move over here to be with me, and luckily, she agreed. She found a job working for you, and it’s been smooth sailing ever since,” Ethan replies, sounding so confident. I'm even starting to believe it could have happened that way.
“I thought you said you lived alone. You’re always telling Aleandro that you pick up extra shifts so you’re not alone in your apartment,” Mel states, her eyes narrowing on me, like she’s just caught me in a lie.
“I-I…well…” My words trail off as I try to think of something to say, a lie to cover for us, but my brain just can’t think that quickly.
Ethan squeezes my hand and gives me a reassuring smile, attempting to calm my nerves. “That would be my fault…again. I work a lot, and McKenna always jokes that sometimes it feels like she’s living alone. Which is why she picks up the extra shifts. But we agreed just the other day that we would both work a little less, so that we can spend more time together.”
Mel seems to contemplate what he’s saying, but she still looks suspicious. “And we’ve saved enough money now to be sure that when we do get married, it will be one hell of an event, so there’s no need to keep working our asses off.”
He flashes a wink my way, and I can’t help the blush that spreads across my cheeks. Mel’s eyes widen as she comedically flicks her eyes between the two of us, like she can’t quite believe what she’s seeing or hearing.
“You’re getting married? To her?”
“Well, I haven’t officially asked her yet, but when I do, I know she will make me the happiest man alive,” Ethan says, pressing another kiss onto the back of my hand.
“Of course I will say yes. I’d have to be stupid not to. Right, Mel?” I ask, nodding my head towards Ethan.
She glares at me as I say her name, choosing to ignore her instruction that I call her Mrs Whitlock. We’re not at work now, and she’s interrupting my coffee date, after all.
“I-I?—”
Before Mel gets the chance to finish her stuttery sentence, Ethan cuts her off. “Well, it was very nice meeting you, Mrs Whitlock. I’m going to go and grab a coffee before I whisk my beautiful girlfriend away for a date night to remember. Enjoy the rest of your day,” he says as he stands and heads towards the queue.
Mel looks at me, her mouth still wide open in shock, and I can’t help but smile smugly at her expression. “Enjoy the rest of your shopping trip. I’ll see you at work.” She takes my dismissal for exactly what it’s supposed to be, but she doesn’t look pleased.
Mel turns on her heels, her blonde hair flicking as she stomps off back to the table where Baldy is sitting. I try to keep the smug grin off my face, but I know that’s a losing battle. It takes every ounce of strength I have not to turn and look at her, but I remind myself that I don’t need to. I won this time, and I couldn’t be fucking happier.
A vibrating ping from my pocket pulls my attention away from my gloating, and I pull my phone out, trying to hide the smile that spreads across my lips when I see Finn’s name, indicating he’s sent me a few messages.
FINN
