Page 88 of The Lies We Play

Creed: I’m adding good bread to the grocery list.

Liv: You have a grocery list?

Creed: I have notes.

Liv: That sounds less reassuring.

Creed: Current notes: good bread, edible food, not just salt.

Liv: Progress.

Creed: I’m a fast learner.

Liv: You’re competitive.

Creed: Also true.

Liv: Fine. I’ll come over.

Creed: Bring the project.

Liv: Bring competence.

Creed: I’ll bring effort.

Liv: Effort is attractive.

Creed: Noted.

Liv: Don’t get smug.

Creed: Too late.

Liv: I can still go to the Vietnamese place.

Creed: I’ll order Vietnamese as backup.

Liv: See? Growth.

Creed: Just for you, baby.

Liv: And Halston.

Creed: And Halston.

Liv: Question. Is it normal to spend more time in a man’s apartment—your maybe boyfriend’s apartment—than with most of your friends?

Halston: Define normal.

Liv: Halston.

Halston: Liv. We are, all three of us, well outside normal. I would not start measuring now.

Liv: Helpful.

Halston: I do my best.

Liv: You do your most evasive.