Free Blue Dream by Xavier Neal

Xander?”
     
    “I...” my voice stutters. “I...I...I don't want my relationship being used as a pawn for him to make partner. I want...” The end of the sentence fades. I'm not sure of how it should end. I just know there should be an end to it. Not in the mood to deal with flak of my current relationship I change gears. “Can we just get to the point you want to prove for your book now?”
     
    “I'm not using you to prove a point,” Katherine tries to dispute. “I am simply listening for testimony that can be presented in the topics I've chosen in a fashion that I desire.”
     
    I cross my legs. “How is that different than what I said?”
     
    “Your way sounds like I'm manipulating your words.” When I don't agree with her she places her tea cup down harshly. “Which I am not!”
     
    In no mood to alienate one of the only people I feel like being around right now, I surrender my hands. “Can we get started?”
     
    “Yes.” She leans back and turns on the recorder. “People Lie For Love....”
     
    “People lie for many reasons,” I mumble under my breath.
     
    “Right, but they lie for love. Do you agree?” After receiving a short nod from me, she continues, “Have you ever lied for love?”
     
    “Xander and I don't lie to each other. There's no point. He doesn't lie to me because he can't see the logic in prolonging something that is going to occur and I don't see the point in wasting that much energy when I could just be honest.”
     
    “What about before Xander?”
     
    Agog, I adjust my body in the seat. “I um...”
     
    “Maybe with Ryder,” his name falls so freely from her lips it infuriates me. I shouldn't be overly protective of someone who damn near destroyed me as much as he showed me devotion like I've never seen since. “Did you lie for him?”
     
    My lips press together.
     
    “Did you lie to protect him?”
     
    A deep breath fills my lungs.
     
    “Did you lie....to protect your relationship?”
     
    I attempt to answer but stop.
     
    On a heavy exhale Katherine lifts her cup. “This really only works if you talk to me, Presley. The book will not include any personal details that will incriminate you in any crimes that you have committed-”
     
    “Cheating is only an actual crime if you're married.”
     
    She lifts her eyebrows. “You cheated on someone?” The slip of information causes the familiar tingling to bury my brain in something salty. Or sweet. Or sticky. Anything to glue my mouth shut. “Presley Morrison, the advocate for honesty, lied to someone for love.”
     
    My eyes fall to the ground. “It's not that simple...”
     
    “I'm all ears.”
     
    “Remember that guy who stood up for me at the football game?”
     
    “Yes.”
     
    “Well....we started dating....”
     
    “He's terrible,” Carmen sighs, dropping her cigarette out her car window. “I've had bull dogs more house broken than he is.”
     
    I giggle at the comment, but don't argue. He is terrible. He's neglectful. Lazy. And very dumb. Not even average dumb, but 'You're Not Smarter Than A First Grader' dumb, as are most of his friends. “Saving face comes at a price.”
     
    “I'm telling you, I know at least four guys you could replace him with.”
     
    “Dating Blaze looks good. He stood up to Ryder in front of a bunch of people.  They're completely different in looks and personality. This is good for my image.” Bad for my soul, but I'm not even sure I still have one. When Ryder walked away, he took it with him. I'll never get it back. Not even sure I want it back if he offered it. Can't think of a better parting gift to the one person I'd die for, even now. Even with the building acrimony, an English vocab word I learned on the day someone drew a dick made out of shaving cream on Ryder's car, I still would. Almost two months after we split and I'm still pining for him. God this can't get any worse.
     
    “I don't know about good,” Carmen mumbles. She nods her head