Sit, Stay, Roll Over ✓

(8) My Pick

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TODD WAS STARING AT Hunter with surprise and confusion all mixed together in one weird expression. He must be wondering why a half-naked man answered the door for him, and why he was looking back at him like he was ready to kill him.

     "What's going on? Who is he?" Todd finally asks.

     I walked beside Hunter and tried to act normal.

     Think Day, think. What else could Hunter possibly be rather than my pet dog?

     "He's a new employee at our company," I blurted out because for some reason, with all the creativity I have as an editor in a big magazine, that was the best thing I could think of. "He came from a different branch and arrived last night. He's going to be working at the company for a while, so my boss suggested that he stays here," I calmly explained so Todd wouldn't know that I was only making it up.

     One thing about me is that Todd doesn't know I'm a good liar. He never knew because he never caught me.

     "And you seriously think that I'll believe that crap?" Todd suddenly asked with his right eyebrow raised.

     Okay, maybe he did know after all.

     "Believe what you want to believe," Hunter suddenly butts in, surprising me because he wasn't supposed to be talking. I was supposed to have everything covered for Pete's sake.

     "Like what Mr. McCartney said, I'm a new employee at the company. I transferred to Italy six years ago and have been working there since. I've only been transferred back here so I haven't settled in yet. I don't know who you are, but if you feel uncomfortable seeing me here, then I can go," Hunter explains in such a professional manner that I almost left my mouth wide open in shock.

     I can't believe Hunter is helping me out here. He just perfectly made up a lie to fool my ex-boyfriend whom he seems to resent so much. He's so good at lying that it's even scaring me.

     "N-No, that's not necessary. I apologize for sounding rude," Todd then answers, looking flustered.

     I glanced at Hunter and noticed that he was no longer glaring at Todd. The lie somehow fooled him, but if Todd starts asking about the company, he'll definitely get caught, especially when Todd knows a lot about my job since I always talk about it.

     "Uhm, Noah, you can use the bathroom now so we could head to the company," I quickly say, emphasizing Hunter's new name so he can catch on.

     Hunter glares at me, probably because he didn't like the basic-ass name I made for him. But thankfully, he doesn't say anything anymore and just nods his head, looking at Todd for one last time before going inside the bathroom.

     I looked back at Todd who was awkwardly just standing outside the very apartment we used to both live in. I didn't really know what else to do, so I cleared my throat and ask him, "Would you like to come in?"

     "Thank you," he says as he steps inside the apartment.

     I can't believe I'm entertaining a guest just minutes after getting fingered by the man I happened to name Noah.

     "Where's your new dog?" Todd suddenly asked while looking around the apartment.

     "Oh, he's...at a friend's house," I lied again. "Unfortunately Noah's allergic to dogs so I had to ask someone to take care of him for the time being."

     "I see," he says, putting his hand inside his pocket. He then spots the table where the television was supposed to be, and I could hear him chuckling a little, probably because he couldn't believe that I still haven't bought one for myself after our breakup.