We talk about nothing. About everything. I watch him as he relaxes. Completely trusting me to keep him out of the water.
As we float around, I muse how I made today far more complicated than I needed to. Nason wouldn’t have given it a second thought if I said I was going to go paddleboarding and see if Lie wanted to join me. I’ve spent many days with Lie while Nason works.
For some reason, I felt the need to keep this excursion a secret. Which means if we’re found out, there’s unnecessary explaining to do. It immediately looks suspicious because I chose not to say something to Nason.
But I want to keep this to ourselves. Something that’s between us. Only ours. It’s not me and my best friend’s son right now. This is me and Lie. A man I’m completely mesmerized by.
I’m not sure when he became so enchanting, when I became so enthralled, but I knew today needed to be ours. Sneaking was necessary. Not for a reason I understand, but something I feel in my chest.
Something is building between us. Good or bad, it’s too late to stop it.
Chapter Fifteen
LIE
I feellike I’m always waiting for my parents to go to bed or leave the house or become absorbed in something before I can go. I’m not even trying to sneak out late at night. It’s mid-morning and my mother isstillhome.
Dad works on Makara in upper management. He has a regular nine-to-five schedule, but because he’s put in the time, he also has a lot of freedom to come and go as he needs to.
Mom works for the school, not as a teacher, but organizing activities for the student body, staff, families, and community involvement. She doesn’t have set hours, but she’s always out of the house by nine-thirty.
Except today, apparently.
I sigh impatiently, listening to her scurry about the house. Is she cleaning? Was that the vacuum?
“Oh, come on,” I mutter.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I look at the screen. With a smile, I answer. “Hey.”
“Come over,” Laiken says.
“I’m trying,” I hiss. “Mom is still here.”
“Why?”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t know.” It’s not like I can’t just say I’m heading to Laiken’s and we’re going to spend the day doing whatever. I could say we’re planning to watch the grass grow, and neither of my parents would think anything of it.
But I feel like they can see through that lie now. Like they’ll justknowI’m hiding something.
Maybe because I’ve never really lied to them about anything. I haven’t needed to. Haven’t wanted to. My dad is my best friend. There’s never been a thing that I haven’t wanted to share with him. I’m convinced he knew when I snuck out to meet Cash as a teen. There’s a very good chance he let me sneak out because he knew I wasn’t getting into trouble.
My door is cracked, so I see my mother hurry by. Then she turns around and knocks, pushing the door open.
“Hi, baby.”
I bring the phone down to my side. “Hey, Mom.”
“Are you going to be home today?”
Oh, no. This feels like a trap. “I’m heading out soon. Why?”
“I’m waiting on a package. I just don’t want it to sit outside.”
“Oh. I can try to check in later.”
“That would be great. Thank you. I’m heading to work now. You have the day off?”
I nod. “Yep.”
