Love and Lies Read Online Free Page B

understand why I’m a little wary. “
    “ Actually, no I can’t. Sure there are some coincidences. But, Carissa, New York City is full of people. It’s kind of selfish to think my being here is related to you in some way, don’t you think?”
    Well, when he put it that way ...I scolded myself for acting like a spoiled brat. Logan had asked me to give the guy a chance. If I’d met him the day before or after, would it have been different? Could the call from Mom have affected me more than I’d realized? Yeah, it probably had.
    “ You’re right. I’m acting like a brat. I guess I should thank you for putting up with me. I’m sorry.”
    “ How about we try this again?” He held his hand out for me to shake. “Eric Byrne. Nice to meet you.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    Eric and I spent the next hour at the coffee shop getting to know each other. To my surprise, he really was an easy guy to talk to. Which made him all the more enticing. I was thankful he didn’t try to make any moves. After dealing with the jerk earlier, I wasn’t sure I could handle flirting from Eric.
    Over the next few weeks, we spent more time together, both alone and with Logan and Alec. After lunch on Wednesday, Alec cornered me between classes.
    “ What's up with you and Eric?” he asked, stepping into my personal space when I tried to fade into the wall.
    “ What do you mean, what's up with us? Nothing that I'm aware of.”
    Alec shook his head. “Not true. He was acting weird at lunch. Lately he and Logan have been snuggling up next to you, one on each side. Those two would fight over an inch to get next to you. Today, he kept scooting further away and fidgeting. I dunno how many times he checked his phone.”
    I shrugged and dropped my head against the wall. “Eric can be odd sometimes.”
    But Alec was right; I'd noticed it too. It wasn't just the phone checking or the new seating arrangement that had me in a daze. I didn't want to admit how much it hurt me to see him pull away. The feeling he left me with —I didn't want that to disappear. The more I got to know him, the more I wanted to go against my own resolve when it came to dating him. Not that I had the guts to say anything, but I hoped, secretly, that he'd figure it out on his own. Guess I was wrong.
    Alec stood in front of me , waiting for me to say something.
    “ What? I don't know what's going on, okay? I'm going to try and talk to him this afternoon.”
    Maybe it was something I said or a look on my face, but Alec laughed and murmured, “I should have known.”
    “ Should have known what?”
    “ Oh nothing, nothing at all.” With that he backed away and went to his next class.
    During my last class I sent Eric a text.
    Want to get together?
    Yeah. Ur place twenty minutes.
    I tucked my phone in to the pocket of my skirt and tried—unsuccessfully—to focus on the lecture. Relief washed over me as soon as the professor shut down the projector and turned on the lights. I dashed across to the campus to my apartment.
    My roommate , Annabelle, was gone—as usual. Once inside, I shrugged off my shoes and dropped my backpack by the door, then hurriedly checked my hair and clothes. Little pieces of grown-out bangs fell out of my half-pony and rested on my cheeks. I took a minute to appreciate the change my appearance had taken over the last few years.
    In New York , I never had the chance to wear my hair in any way other than perfectly styled. According to Mom, ponytails weren't appropriate for well-bred girls, not when they were expected to look their best at all times. Thank you Dad for being Mr. Big Shot New York Designer. Hard to believe the paparazzi paid attention to people other than LA movie stars, but it was true. Mom and Dad dodged them almost as much. Then again, being the designer for all the stars, it was hard to go unnoticed.
    Now, I did my hair how I wanted to, with no one around to scold me for not being polished. A smirk formed across my face as I took in my worn