His smirk was just as nice as a smile. Maybe better.
His expression eased into another solemn one. “You’re not the only one who’s had to hide their entire life, Gracie.”
Oh, shit. He totally had a point.
“I wasn’t homeschooled, but I went to a private school. I’ve had to lie to every person I’ve ever met that I’m not related to. I couldn’t let myself get too close to anyone, because the more I interacted with them, the more possibilities I had of fucking up and doing something that would give me away.”
This sounded strangely familiar.
“I’m lucky I have a big family; otherwise, I wouldn’t have any friends.” He didn’t look troubled at all, just more matter of fact. “I’ve had to stay under the radar my whole life. I couldn’t get too good of grades; I couldn’t do anything out of the ordinary. We’ve all waited until we have found our partners to be with someone, because we can’t risk screwing up. We can’t put our families or our identities at risk if we hope to have any semblance of a normal life.”
This intense sensation of kinship rose up between us, strong and powerful. I felt my eyes widening at everything he was telling me because it was hitting way too close to home.
“I had no idea.”
Apparently, he had because he gave me this face that said he thought I was dumb for not coming up with it before.
Maybe I was.
How the hell had I not realized just how similar our lives had been? The only difference was that he’d had more people in his and more duties. My only responsibility had basically been to keep going. To be quiet.
The weight of a family, of a whole life, rested on those shoulders, and he was a hell of a lot stronger than I was, that was for sure.
“Why the hell are you tearing up?”
I didn’t bother wiping at my eyes. I just shrugged. “Because we’re so different, but at the same time, we’re almost the same person.”
Alex blinked. “Are we?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
I shrugged. “We’re both a little mean.”
That got a corner of his mouth to lift. “You’re mean. I’m blunt,” Alex corrected.
“Honesty can be mean sometimes. That’s what white lies are for.”
“White lies are bullshit.”
I groaned. “Two. We both like to bicker.”
“Picking on each other isn’t bickering. We’re having fun.”
Picking on each other, was it? I had to keep from smiling. “We’ve both had to live with a thousand lies on our souls.”
He didn’t say anything then.
“And we’re both members of the V-club.”
Oooooh, that got me a side glare.
“I’m not making fun of you. I’d be making fun of myself. But it’s the truth.” I thought of something. “How many women have you kissed?”
If I could measure the length of the look he gave me, it would have been at least a mile long.
I knew what that expression meant.
