“Know what?” I ask, frustrated at the two.
He gives her wide eyes, but she glances up at me with confusion.
“He’s a world-famous rock star.”
Say what now?
I can’t help but let out a gasp of horror.
He’s a rock star? This has to be a joke. Please, God, let this be a joke.
He’s kept this hidden from me the entire time, like it’s something I wasn’t supposed to know.
I stagger back from him on the bed and find tears rolling down his face. “What?” My voice comes out in a broken whisper. “What is she talking about, Leonidas?”
He bites his lip in defeat as Harper continues, “He’s in a band named X3 with his siblings, Amelia and Elijah. Every other song on the radio is by them. They’re killing it.”
My heart shatters as I focus my gaze on the tears pouring down his face. I try to spot his usual smile to see if this is a joke they’re playing on me. But all I see is pure distress.
Harper isn’t lying.
He’s been lying to me this entire time.
“Get out,” he says, not looking back at my best friend, only staring deep into my soul. “Get the hell out. You’ve said enough.”
Staring at the back of his head surprised, Harper replies, “I don’t think I have actually. It seems she’s frozen in shock.”
His eyes burn with hate. Turning toward her, he grits out, “Get out!”
My best friend’s eyes find mine, asking me a silent question, asking whether I want to be left alone with him.
Yes or no?
Do I trust that Leonidas will tell me the truth?
No, I absolutely don’t.
I now realize that he’s given me no reason to trust him. Yet I don’t want to hear the truth come from my best friend when he’s standing right here. All the secrets that he’s been keeping under my nose need to come from him.
“Harper, don’t worry; you can leave. I need a moment alone with him, so he can explain.”
She nods and shoots me a sad smile. After she closes the door behind her, I wait to hear the front door close. I don’t meet his eyes until I hear her car drive away.
“Trinity,” he pleads, “I can explain.”
“Start,” I demand, glaring over at him.
I watch as he swallows tightly and braces himself.
“Four years ago, Elijah, Amelia, and I got an offer with a record label. Obviously, we took it because singing had been our dream for the longest time. Our band’s name is X3. I guess you can say we’re a big deal now. I couldn’t write any songs. So, my dad made us move up here, so I could get the motivation I needed,” he stammers. “When I first met you, I thought you were playing dumb, but then I quickly realized that you really didn’t know who we were.”
Tears cloud my vision as I look at the liar in front of me.
“You’re a breath of fresh air, Trinity. You love me for who I am. I haven’t felt normal in years, and you gave me that feeling. I know I should have told you about my identity, but I didn’t want to ruin what we had. I wanted you to love me for my heart and not for being the world-famous Leo.”
He quickly gets up from the ground when I stand straight. I take steps backward, and my back meets the wall as he stares at me with longing.
How could he do this to me?
