“I had to make you forget me,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“Just tell me what you did.”
“We use our thumbs and press them to your—”
“I remember.”
“You do? You remember a lot, don’t you?”
“You told me you loved me.” I sat up. “I remember, you said, ‘I’ll always be here for you.’”
“I don’t know how it’s possible, but it didn’t work on you. It was temporary.”
“How many times have you done that to me?”
“That was the only time, I swear to you, Evey.”
“Swear to God?” I demanded.
He smirked. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“I swear to God. It was the one and only time I have ever tried to erase your memory. I’m good at what I do. I normally wouldn’t have to do that. But swearing to God…”
“What? It’s frowned upon?”
“No, it’s just meaningless. People shouldn’t lie to each other to begin with. People shouldn’t have to fear hell in order to tell the truth. They should fear that their lies will ruin relationships or get them in trouble, here now, on Earth, with the people they love.”
“You sound human when you say that, Lucian.”
“It’s what I’ve always wanted for you… real truth. I can’t tell you what will happen once you’re gone from this Earth. How is that for faith? I can tell you for sure though that there are consequences to your actions here, while you’re living.”
“You were Keith the other night, weren’t you?”
He nodded, and then rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. I thought he was avoiding making eye contact with me. I wondered if he had felt guilty for the stunt he pulled in Keith’s body.
“Youwere actually Keith?” I asked again.
He nodded again. I started laughing hysterically. Lucian was trying to control his own laughter.
“So the erectile dysfunction thing was your way of keeping me off him?”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “I’m not proud. Lies, Evey, all lies. I regret getting myself into that mess.”
I stopped laughing. “Why didn’t you just make love to me as Keith? I was obviously willing.”
“Yeah, you were all over him.” He seemed irritated by that fact.
“Why didn’t you let him make love to me?”
“It wouldn’t have been love for you, not with him. And if I had gotten out of his body and let you guys… you know? It wouldn’t have been love for him either. I had overheard him earlier. He wasn’t into making love that night. He just wanted to have sex with you. I’m sorry, Evey. I hate telling you that. I was trying to protect you.”
“So he wasn’t into me?”
“He was into you. You’re beautiful. No man on this planet wouldn’t be into you, but that night Keith wanted to party. It would not have been special for you or for him. Trust me.”
“Maybe I didn’t need special.” He grimaced. “Anyway, I sensed that it was you, once we were in the club,” I said. “You could have made love to me as Keith.”
