Page 3 of Spiral Lies

"MASH," he says, looking at me over the top of the sickeningly familiar sheet of paper that is absolutely not supposed to be in his hands. It's supposed to be on my desk.

Why isn't it on my desk?

I think I'm going to pass out when I remember grabbing his schedule off the corner of my desk…from the exact same place I put the ridiculous MASH game I played almost two weeks ago, while wine drunk with my closest friends.

To my utter humiliation, his name is on that fucking paper. I almost cried tears of joy when I got to cross it off, saving myself from a future married to his hot, grumpy ass. I wasn't even a little bit sad.

At least, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

"Is this the kid's game?" he asks, glancing at the paper again.

"I…I don't…" There is no lying my way out of this one. There just isn't. "Yes," I whisper, desperately hoping for an earthquake right under the very spot I'm standing. I don't even need it to damage the rest of the city. I just need it to split this floor open beneath my feet and swallow me whole. It's a tiny ask, honestly.

"I see," he murmurs.

"I can exp—"

"Who is Ashton?"

My mouth snaps shut. That isn't what I was expecting him to ask. I fully expected him to ask why his name is written on there. I absolutely expected a lecture about appropriate behavior. I was even prepared for my inevitable termination for sexual harassment or gross misconduct or whatever they call it when you try to MASH your way into a delusional future with your boss.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No." I swallow hard. "I made him up."

"I see." His gaze flicks to mine, his blue eyes burning. "Liam?"

"Hemsworth brother."

"Who?"

"Thor's little brother."

"Ah."

"Tony?"

"Stark." Why the fuck can't I stop talking? This is not leading anywhere good. This path leads straight to hell. I already feel the flames licking at my soul.

"Hudson?"

"Um…"

"Made up?" he guesses.

I nod, my heart in my throat. It's choking me. I can't breathe.

His eyes lock on mine. "And the last name on the list? Stone?"

Please, let there be an earthquake. Please, let there be an earthquake. Please, let there be an—

"Seraphina?"

"Earthquake."

His brows furrow. "What?"