Page 39 of A Real Good Lie

Callahan would have drowned under the weight of his family’s rules and expectations if he hadn’t broken free the way he had, but even now, in this room, he became aware of how much he was still tangled and tied with the politics of their old money and their older names.

“Rhys told me he didn’t think you’d make it.” Ashley brushed a lock of golden hair away from her face, the giant diamond sparkling on her ring finger. He wasn’t shocked that Rhys had gone for something so gaudy.

Ostentatious was his style.

“The new building has my name on it, why wouldn’t I be here?”

“I just thought with the way things had ended…” she trailed off, gesturing with that flashy diamond of hers.

“He’s an adult,” Jace said before Callahan could formulate a reply. “Adults have real responsibilities and don’t worry about people who peaked in college.”

“Excuse me?” Ashley blinked her long, fake eyelashes, and Daniella made a small noise in her throat.

“I’m here to honor my father’s legacy,” Callahan told her.

“You didn’t even like him.”

“I don’t like you that much either.”

Daniella made another noise and pulled on Ashley’s arm. “It was really good to see you, Callahan. Sebastian said we’re having a double date next month.”

“That sounds great,” he said, even though it was a lie. Just another part of the game, and he was surprised Daniella had agreed to play along with the farce. Things between her and Sebastian were tense on a good day.

Daniella pulled Ashley away and Jace squeezed his hand.

“Jesus,” Jace muttered under his breath.

“They’re horrible, I know.”

“No.” He shook his head and looked up at Callahan with wide eyes “That was really hot.”

“What?” he scoffed.

“Really hot,” Jace repeated. “The way you just…the way you dismissed her.”

“I don’t like either of them.”

“I can tell.” Jace fanned himself, his eyes sparkling. He bit the corner of his lip between his teeth and scanned the room. “Is there anyone here you like besides Sebastian?”

You, he thought, much to his dismay and very unsure of when it had happened.I like you.

“No,” he answered. “Not a soul.”

Chapter Twelve

Jace is in Over His Head

Jace ended up sitting directly across the table from Rhys, and there was no amount of liquor that could have made it easier to look at that wretched man’s face for as long as he would have to. Of course the dinner was a pre-arranged menu;pre-fixe, Callahan had called it.

Whatever that meant.

Remington would have known, and Jace found himself lonely for home.

He poked at a pile of thin greens with his fork, pushing them around the plate with a frown.

“Watercress,” Callahan whispered in his ear.

Jace inclined his head slightly and Callahan pressed a kiss against his temple that had him reeling.