Page 65 of Ly to Me

23

Lyra

The Bitch

The bar was just as quaint as I remembered—a small, wooden building with a raised front porch and a corrugated tin roof. I’d never actually been inside and had only driven past it a few times with Car when we were younger.

Each time we saw it, he’d light up with pride, like he was doing now as he parked the truck, facing the building.

“They kept the name.” I tipped my head toward the red neonRoland’ssign glowing across the front.

“Yeah.”

“It’s busy.” The parking lot was nearly full. The fact that Car had gotten a spot right up front must have been sheer luck.

“People like to dance in this town,” he answered, like that should have been obvious. Like, had I stayed, I would’ve known that. If only he knew how different my life would have been if I’d done just that.

“Stay,” he commanded, then got out of the truck and walked to my door, opening it and holding out a hand for me.

I jutted my chin away from him and hopped out, acting like I didn’t see his hand. He chuckled and let me walk past him, then slid his hand over the small of my back, guiding me in.

“Just because I’m your wife doesn’t mean you have to touch me all the time.”

I could hear the grin on his lips as he said, “The whole town would expect me to be touching my wife at all times.”

I rolled my eyes, then waited to respond until he opened the door. “Right, I almost forgot—you’ve slept with the entire town.”

I braced myself for the door to slam in my face, for Car’s fingers to be around my throat and my back to be pressed into the outer wall, regardless of the people who could now see us clearly in the doorway. Instead, his hand wrapped around my waist possessively, pulling me closer to him as his lips grazed the shell of my ear.

“Keep up that jealousy,wife. It’s sexy as hell.”

I glowered at him over my shoulder. “Oh, please. Jealousy is the furthest thing from my mind.”

“Sometimes, I really love it when you lie.” His other hand brushed down my spine, finding the hem of my dress andsnaking up it. My lips parted as he palmed my ass. “But the only lying you’ll be doing later tonight will be on your back while I’m making you scream my name.”

Wicked laughter hummed along my skin as he kissed my neck, making it more sensitive. My eyes darted around the crowded space, expecting to find more attention on us with how handsy Car was being, but only found some brunette woman in the corner glaring our way.

“I’m going to the restroom.” I bolted for the bathroom sign in the back, weaving in and out of couples and wait staff carrying drinks. When I reached the bathroom, I pressed my palms to the door, throwing a glance over my shoulder. Car was leaning against the bar top, gaze dark and heated and set on me as if no one else was in the bar.

Looking at someone like that in public should be outlawed. But clearly he was here to prove a point—he owned me. And he wanted everyone else to know that, too. Not just me.

The door swung open from the inside, and I fell through, landing on my hands and knees.

“Oh, sorry! Let me help you.” French manicured toes covered in red strappy heels, along with a woman’s hand, filled my vision.

“Thanks,” I said, taking her hand, allowing her to help me up. Right as I braced on my knee, she released me, sending me back to the ground.

“Whoopsie.” A maniacal giggle echoed in the dank space. “Clumsy me.”

“No worries.” She took a step back as I stood, leveling her shrewd face with mine. Covered in red from head to toe, the woman looked familiar. It took me a second to realize it was the same woman who watched Car and I enter the bar. The same woman who’s glower and obvious disdain cut through the crowd of people.

“Did you follow me in here?” I asked.

“What?” She pressed her fingers on her chest, pretending to be taken aback. “Why ever would I—”

“Cut the shit. I saw you when I came in.”

“Whenhecame in, you mean,” she corrected, dropping her arm, letting a sharp sneer twist her thin lips. “You were just the thing he tugged along for the night.”