Page 171 of Loving the Liar

His amber eyes light up with joy when he sees me.

“Ella,” he exhales, like he’s been holding his breath for the last six months.

He takes me in his arms the second I stand up. It could be seen as a friendly hug, but now that I’m touching him, I remember there’s never been any friendship between Chris and me. We are star-crossed lovers, and there’s no other story for us than the one where we love each other forever.

The only question is, will it be together or apart?

He eyes the flowers I brought on the grave, and he thanks me, standing a step away from me. I can still feel the excitement emanating from him. He’s desperate to touch me, hug me…maybe even kiss me.

I feel like a teenager with a crush. The same way I was in high school when he would talk to me or give me attention. It changes from the anxiety mixed with passion we’ve been feeling around each other.

“I like the necklace,” he says almost shyly.

My hand automatically flies to it. “Thank you.” And as I roll a pearl around the string, my eyes go to the hand in his pocket. He’s doing it too, playing with a pearl to try to keep himself calm.

I lick my lips, not liking that after going through so much together, we’re almost scared to cross the final line. So, I don’t hesitate to wrap my arms around his neck and pull him until his head rests on my shoulder.

“Here,” I croak, trying to hold tears back. “You’ll always have my shoulder to cry on.”

Pulling me into him, he hugs me hard, and I don’t hear a single sound from him, but I feel the dampness on my skin, and so I stay silent, caressing his head and then his back.

The embrace becomes painful in this position, his huge body swallowing me whole. But I let him. When he finally pulls away, he wipes a hand across his face.

He takes something from his pocket and brings it to my lips. A love heart candy. I take it, smiling like an idiot, and he watches me, face close to mine.

“Say it,” I rasp, excitement mixing with the longing.

“I’m going to kiss you.”

“Do it.”

His lips capture mine in a deep kiss. It’s like we’ve never kissed before. Like we waited forever for it. The love heart candy dances along our tongues, and my arms wrap around his neck.

I never want this to end. Not the kiss, the feeling of belonging to someone so perfectly. The sensation of knowing you have found exactly what you need. Care, protection, a best friend…love.

When we pull away, he smiles at me like holding me in his arms is all he’s ever wanted to do.

“You’re my world, Sweets.”

“And you’re mine. I’ve known since high school. I knew when you came back. And I knew when you decided to give me time. You’re the one who had to be taught a lesson. I already knew.”

“Six months,” he rasps, but a smile pulls at the corner of his mouth. “You tortured me for six months, huh?”

“You deserved it.” I look around us, knowing nothing will be able to last if I don’t bring this up. “So. Am I going to be your Hera, now?”

He runs a hand behind his neck. “If we want to be together…it’s not something we have a choice in. I’m part of the Circle. I have to have a Hera, and I don’t want anyone else.”

When I don’t answer, he takes both my hands in his.

“We’ll take it very slowly. No marriage, nothing until you’re ready. You’ll get a necklace, I’ll get a new signet ring, and after that you’ll never have to go to the temple again. You’ll never have to deal with them. I promise you.”

It’s a strange feeling that goes through my being. Something I didn’t expect. I’m not…worried. I’m not anxious about it. Chris is part of the Circle. I’m part of him. It’s as simple as that.

“As long as I don’t have to see any of them ever again after the ceremony.”

“You won’t,” he reassures me.

“And you won’t have an Aphrodite…”

---