A Field Guide to Deception Read Online Free PDF Page B

through her like a dragon.
    They waited for Liv at the truck: Simon sprinting around, kicking pinecones, and Claire on her back in the grass, her legs boneless as jellyfish. She’d just remembered her dream when a shadow blocking her light made her aware of him.
    â€œHard ride?” the man asked.
    Claire opened her eyes, tilted her head sideways, “Clearly.”
    The man chuckled, stepped back; his enormous black poodle licked at Simon. “What’s your name?” He asked the boy. Simon patted the poodle. “I’m Dave,” the man said. He wore the dog’s leash across his torso like a girl-scout sash. “Dave,” he said again, this time to Claire.
    â€œYeah, Dave, my girlfriend’s just coming. Excuse us, will you?” Claire had said this as though it were true, and found herself standing, keen and relieved, as Liv tore into the parking lot. Her hair awry, sweat from every pore, her breath coming in dashes.
    â€œOh, that hurts,” she said, grinning at Claire.

    They ate at Thai Bamboo, the mango smoothies thick and rich; Simon slurping Pad Thai noodles; Liv and Claire exhausted and blissful.
    â€œHow is it you’re so fit?” Liv asked, trying to understand being beaten by someone’s mother.
    â€œYoga.”
    â€œOh, right,” Liv said, uncertain whether or not Claire was teasing.
    â€œThere’s no shame in it.”

    â€œOh, it’s like that, is it?”
    â€œWhen you’re older, you’ll understand.”
    â€œRight. Well, I appreciate the lesson anyway.”
    â€œNo bother,” Claire laughed.

    That night at the bar, Bailey scowled across at Liv. They were drinking beer; both in tank tops, Liv watching the troupe of college girls march up and down the stairs. Sitting on the upper level of the Mercury Café with a clear view of the door, the first floor, and the bar, Liv thought the gay bar overwhelmed with straights.
    â€œSo I’ve been promoted,” Bailey said.
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œI’m head baker now.”
    â€œThat’s swell, congratulations. So, more dough?”
    â€œYou’re cute. And yes, now I’m salaried.”
    â€œNext round’s on me.”
    â€œThanks,” Bailey said. “Can I ask you something?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œI’ve been back in Spokane a year-and-a-half, right? And I haven’t met anyone—not anyone—that I’m excited about. I’ve met some nice people, some sweet girls, but I haven’t met anyone I’m really into.” She bent her coaster, smoothed her hair back from her forehead. “So I don’t get it. You’re back like ten minutes and picking up chicks all over the place. I know pickups aren’t relationships, but they’re sex and that would be OK too. You know?”
    Liv sipped her beer, waited.
    â€œI just, I just want to be happy here. I know it’s Spokane, but I want to be happy here. I’ve got a job I’m psyched about and I love my house, and I can’t meet a single person that I’m into. Why is that?”
    Bailey in all her honest desperation: her tank top and jeans ironed, her hair curled and styled, her nails polished. They both knew she was pretty, and that that was not the problem. She was really asking,
though, and this made it painful for Liv; she was embarrassed for Bailey.
    â€œI don’t know,” Liv said. “It’s tricky.”
    â€œSo like with you; I mean, you don’t even think of me like that, right?”
    Liv debated sprinting from the building. “I don’t sleep with my friends.”
    â€œRight. Because that would be messy.”
    â€œBailey, what is it that you want?”
    â€œJesus, you’re like talking to a guy. I want you. You’re what I want.”
    Liv rocked back in her chair, held her breath.
    â€œNot a relationship—I know you. Just sex. Light and uncomplicated.”
    Uncomplicated. Liv nearly