Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Griff’s head turned and our eyes met. It was such a cute story that I was falling for it too. I wished that what he’d described had actually happened. I wanted to be able to tell that story to my friends, to our children, and even our grandchildren...
“Since I didn’t want the night to end, I walked her home,” Griff continued as he turned back to face Kelly and breaking the spell his mesmerizing eyes had me under. “That was when I asked her if she wanted to do it again sometime, but I made it clear that I wanted it to be a date. She agreed and well, the rest is history!”
When Griff finished, I turned to look at everyone else’s reactions. I braced myself as I waited for questions or accusations but none came. Instead, Mrs. Washington was dabbing a napkin at her eyes and Isaac was smiling wide. It was clear that Griff’s story had been convincing enough for no-one to question it. I was amazed really. Griff had so many talents, it made sense that he was good at thinking on his feet.
“Oh, what a lovely story,” Mrs. Washington gushed. “You are such a gentleman, Griff.”
“That’s because he’s the one who told the story,” Kelly said. “I bet he wouldn’t be such a gentleman if we heard it from Remy’s perspective. I bet they aren’t quite the same story, are they, Remy?”
As Kelly grew more and more bold in her attempts to trip me up, I began to feel my confidence swell. I didn’t want her to win and in order for me to achieve that, I had to do my best to ‘lie my ass off’ as Griff had put it. So, I smiled as wide as I could in her direction and took a deep breath in.
“Actually, Kelly, Griff told the story almost perfectly,” I declared. “We were both working late, we grabbed pizza, and Griff walked me home. The only real difference is that I enjoyed the food!”
Mrs. Washington guffawed in response. She was clearly easy to please and I was happy to have someone present who could act as my cheerleader. Still, she wasn’t the person I had to impress. Kelly was still staring me down like she was looking down the barrel of a gun and there was a target on my back.
“So, the two of you didn’t kiss on the first date?” Kelly prompted with a thoughtful expression on her face.
“No, we didn’t,” I confirmed with a nod.
“Well then, why don’t you share with us the story of your first kiss?” she proposed with a sinister smirk.
“Oh, uh…” I trailed off, feeling a little awkward. “You really want to hear more about us?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t we?” Kelly replied before leaning forward. “Unless you don’t want to tell us for some reason?”
Everybody was staring right at me and I knew it would look suspicious if I turned to Griff for help again. This time, I had to come up with the story. I wanted it to be believable enough to get Kelly off our backs, so I searched my memory for one of the fantasies I’d dreamed up while zoning out at work.
“Okay, okay,” I began with a small laugh. “I can see you’re all eager to hear about the latest office couple, so I’ll tell you. It was about a week after the time we stayed late at the office that Griff was telling you about. Griff and I were walking around in Discovery Park on a day when the weather was really good. Just when we were both looking out over the Seattle skyline, Griff grabbed hold of me and leaned down and… we kissed.”
As soon as I finished recalling the fantasy, my cheeks flushed a bright red. I hoped that everyone else would brush it off as embarrassment, but what would Kelly think? That was the most important question. When I looked over at her, however, her face was expressionless.
“Oh, that sounds so romantic!” Mrs. Washington exclaimed. “Doesn’t that sound romantic, dear?”
“Yes, yes, Betty, very romantic,” her husband agreed with an uncaring nod of his head.
“Why don’t you ever take me to Discovery Park?” she questioned, elbowing her husband in the side. “You never take me anywhere romantic anymore!”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Washington. I never meant to get you in any trouble,” I said.
“No harm done,” Mr. Washington replied with a flap of his hand. “This one always finds a way to get me in trouble.”
At his declaration, the whole table laughed in unison. I could feel my heart beating faster and faster. The blood was rushing in my ears and it was a while before I realized that I had actually done it. I’d successfully lied my way through Kelly’s interrogation and I couldn’t be happier.