Free Bittersweet Deceit by Blakely Bennett

He sat up and moved toward the edge of the bed.
    “We’re going to dinner.”
    He stood up and said, “I’m not happy about this.”
    “Don’t expect me to stay at home being a hermit between our visits.”
    “Clearly. I’ve got to go.” His stare seared my skin, as did his displeasure.
    “Mason,” I said, holding out my hand to him.
    He took my hand and said, “Don’t have sex with him.”
    I peered up at him and said, “I don’t plan to.”
    “I love you, Lainie. Don’t forget that,” he said and then he left.
    Holy mother of god, what the hell? I took a few sips of water and then rested my head down on the pillow. That lasted a few seconds until my stomach protested. I pulled myself back up into a sitting position.
    “He didn’t look happy,” Stay said as he entered my bedroom carrying two plates. “Do you think you could handle eating a cracker? By the way this is a very ingenious way, albeit unconventional, to woo a man to your place. The smoked Gouda is excellent on the rosemary crackers.”
    “Very funny. I’m scared to eat anything at the moment.”
    “I’ll put this on your side table in case you changed your mind. Here, put this on your forehead,” he said, handing me the washcloth. “Do you want to be alone?”
    “No. I can’t sleep yet. My stomach is still too upset, but if you need to get up early for work—”
    “I work freelance and set my own schedule,” he said as he settled himself on the bed facing me.
    “Must be nice. I think I recall you saying something about working with computers?”
    “Game animation.” He placed a slice of cheese on top of a cracker and tossed it into his mouth.
    “Get the fuck out of town, really?”
    “Really, really.”
    “Well that’s cool. Not that I’m into gaming but I’m awed by the creativity. Probably because I don’t have a lick of it myself.”
    “Oh, I’m sure that’s not true.” The way he said it made me blush.
    “Well, all creativity should have its admirers.”
    “Most definitely,” he said and winked.
    “Stop that.”
    “Stop what?” he asked, affecting an innocent expression.
    “Flirting.”
    “That’s an impossible request when I’m around you so you’ll just have to learn to tolerate it.”
    “You come across as this mild mannered man, but I can tell you’re a handful.”
    “You think so?”
    “A very caring handful, but yes.”
    “Hopefully you ’ll find out.” And he winked again.
    I laughed. I practically wanted to hug him for taking my mind off my nausea.
    “So Mason’s an interesting man. Clearly married.”
    “How would you know that?” I asked my volume louder than normal.
    “I don’t think it makes me a genius to pick up the signs. I didn’t even have to use my stellar intuition to deduce that. For one, you never bring him to Red’s ; two, he hovered at your door but didn’t want me to see him; and three, he didn’t stay to take care of you. So he’s either an asshole or married. I went with married.”
    “Well, I—”
    “He wasn’t at all happy about my presence.” He coupled another slice of cheese between two crackers.
    “He made that abundantly clear.” I took another small sip of water.
    “Did he? What else did he say?”
    “That you professed your love for me and I was forbidden to have sex with you.” I pursed my lips, holding back a laugh. “I exaggerate but that was the general gist. What did you actually say? He wouldn’t tell me.”
    “You asked him?” A bright smile lit up his face. “He must have loved that.”
    “Don’t go puffing out your chest or anything. I’m ill and not thinking clearly. So...”
    “I said that I’m very interested in getting to know you better , and now I know what’s been getting in the way. I told him I planned to pursue you.” He ate more of his snack and washed it down with sweet tea that he must have found in the back of the refrigerator.
    “You said that?”
    “I’m not into men, but he certainly has it in the