Page 48 of Petals and Fangs

“The real question remains: why are we here?”

I don't answer her right away. I don't even have a clear answer to that. I just wanted to bring her here and spend time with her. But I also wanted to confront her concerning her little secret identity, that I quickly figured out.

“I've told you already on the drive here. I thought you might enjoy the view,” I lie, and look into her eyes.

“That's all?” she asks. I can hear her heart beating so fast.

“Maybe that's not all, but who am I to keep secrets from you? I have to tell you. We have never kept secrets from each other before, have we, Lily?” I ask, but a sudden wave of guilt hits me. I hope she can't see it from the way I'm acting. I hope I'm better at this than I think I am.

“Nope,” she says, and I can't help but notice a tiny hesitation in her voice.

“Good.” I smile at her and look away.

I have kept secrets before from Lily. She has no idea that I am not who she thinks I am. I might have kept the biggest secret from her. Being a vampire has changed me.

“There is one thing, though,” she says, her eyes meeting mine.

“Tell me, Lily.”

“I just want you to know that I don't appreciate lies, and I'm not going to accept them.”

Her words cut deep inside my skin, but I smile and nod.

“I have a lot of questions for you,” she adds.

“Shoot.”

“Why have you been hiding all this time? Why haven’t I seen you all these years? And where were you all this time? Where did you disappear off to?”

“Oh, God. All those questions. I'm not sure I have the answers for them,” I say, and shrug my shoulders.

“Oh, I am sure you do, Ethan.”

“Still. Lots of questions.”

“Come on. Tell me. I deserve to know."

“Well, I can't lie. My reasons are personal. You have no idea what I have gone through, and I'd rather not talk about it,” I say. I let out a long sigh and look into her eyes.

“Oh, come on.”

“Way too many questions, Lily. I am serious about that,” I laugh it off, and look at the bunk bed that we used to cuddle on.

“You were always so secretive. You know that?”

“I am sorry.”

“It's okay,” she says, and her facial expression changes.

“My turn to ask now.”

“You can ask, but that doesn't mean I am answering anything,” she says.

“Rude much?”

“I haven't gotten my questions answered, so what makes you think that I will answer yours?”

“I do like a little feisty attitude. I have but a single, harmless question,” I tell her, my face getting closer to her ear.

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