Page 31 of A Secret Promise

"I'd just fake it."

"For real?"

It was Vixen's turn to sigh. "You wouldn't like the old me at all, Riley. I was so, so good at faking everything. I'd be the life of the party, but deep down inside, I was worried and insecure the entire time. I couldn't make myself stop pretending because I didn't ever want people to think I was weak."

"And now?"

A slight smile touched her lips. "It's the opposite."

Riley was visibly bewildered. "Like how?"

"IknowI'm weak, and I don't mind that other people know this, too. I'll always be weak, and that's the truth."

"So...no girl power?"

"It's more like...I may be weak, but I draw power from knowing He's in control. It's basically Philippians 4:13 at work..."

Riley didn't need any prompting this time to look up the verse on her phone."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

"Exactly."

"And you really believe that?"

Vixen's heart ached anew at Riley's wistful expression. "Those words are true for all of us, Riley."

"ButMom..."

"What about her?"

"Youknow—"

"Dowe know anything? You heard what the police said. She's a person of interest, not a suspect."

"But she was so paranoid about you...and..."

"Unfriendly?"

"Mean."

"Like I said, unfriendly."

The shame on Riley's face finally faded, and a small laugh escaped her."Oh, Vix."

"Your mom barely knows me, okay? So who knows? We could still be friends—-" Vixen choked back a laugh at how the words had Riley looking at her like she had lost her mind.

"Don't look at me like that," Vixen protested. "I'm serious here. Your mom and Icanbe friends—-"

"No, you can't. Like,ever."

Vixen feigned a look of hurt. "Well, why not?"

"Because she hates your guts."

"Hate might not be the right word to use—-"

"You're right."

Oh, finally, some progress!

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