Page 72 of Sinful Lies

“Oh, I was down for the naked pillow fights.”

I bark a laugh as Zara’s body shakes with silent laughter.

It seems she’s starting to feel a little better, and I’m glad that I’m the one to bring her comfort.

I can’t deny that it’s nice to feel needed.

“You start,” I suggest, moving my hand up and down her back in a soothing motion. “Tell me about your family.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Whatever you want to tell me.”

“Umm…” She’s quiet for a moment. “Well, I’m insanely close with Emily though we’re complete polar opposites.”

“In what way?”

“Well, our parents have always had very high expectations of us, but especially my dad. There was a lot of academicpressure, and I struggled sometimes to keep up with those expectations, working myself to the point of burnout to make sure that he would be proud of me. Emily on the other hand never seemed to care. Don’t get me wrong, she works hard, but she always makes sure to do it for her. I wish I could be like that.”

“Don’t wish to be like someone else. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

She’s quiet for a moment.

I have so many things I want to know about her. I need to know abut her. But there is one thing… “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Have you ever been in love?” I’m not sure why I ask.

The thought of Zara ever being with someone else, beingin lovewith someone else, feels like a punch to the gut. There’s just something about her that brings out this intense possessiveness that I’ve never experienced before.

I like having her to myself, and I want to keep it that way, until she decides otherwise.

Zara’s quiet for a moment, and I wonder if she’s fallen asleep. But then her shoulders rise as she takes a breath, and I brace myself for the answer.

“No. I’ve never been in love.”

My eyebrows shoot up as relief I have no business experiencing floods me.

“Really?”

“Yeah…” She shifts to sit beside me crossed legged, and I instantly miss the feeling of her beside me. “I never really knew what falling in love felt like until…”

She looks away as her cheeks flush.

I frown, unsure of what she means, but then Zara clearsher throat.

“Your turn. Tell me something other people don’t know about you.”

“Uh…” I’m not normally one to be raw and deep with someone, but I appreciate that Zara is opening up to me, and I want to give her a little in return. “Well, most people assume that I’m a bit of a playboy.”

Zara’s lip twitches.

I nudge her playfully with my knee. “Watch it.”

“I didn’t say anything!” She laughs.

“I’m being serious here.” I fold my arms across my chest.

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