Page 101 of The Lies Always Told

“A beautiful genius.” She closes her eyes and lets out a sigh.

“I need you to promise me you’ll be okay by yourself tonight.” We’ve been dancing around this all night. Ever since I found her beyond drunk on the couch in the cabin, I haven’t let her out of my sight. Tonight, it’s time.

“I don’t know if I will be,” she replies honestly, eyes still closed and her hand holding mine. She looks so peaceful, as peaceful as she always does, as peaceful as I feel when I’m near her. It breaks my heart that she’s hurting so much.

“I’m safe, though, I promise.” That’s what I wanted to hear. She’s safe. She needed time. She needed to cry. She needed to feel. Now, she can heal. Slowly. A day at a time, and I’ll be here for her every step of the way.

“Are you going to work tomorrow?”

“No, I emailed the principal on Monday. I’m taking the rest of the week off. I can’t in good conscience go to school like this. I am seeing my therapist tomorrow, though. I should have gone weeks ago.”

“Mm, then why don’t you come with me? I could use some company.”

I quirk a brow. “Could you now?”

“Mm-hmm. I get very scared when I’m by myself.” She chuckles, and it’s like music to my ears. I would give anything to always make her smile.

“Is that okay with you?” she asks, but this time, she opens her eyes and looks into mine. Her beautiful green eyes—I’m never going to get tired of seeing them, of looking into them.

“It’s always okay with me, baby girl. I want to sleep by your side every night. I want you to be the last thing I see before I go to sleep, dream about you all night long, and wake up to you tangled with me in my bed.”

“So clingy,” she jokes.

“I’m in love with you. I can’t get enough of you, love. Call me clingy if you want, but that’s the truth.”

“I love you too,” she whispers as she sits up. “Are my clothes still in your drawer?”

“Yup, and your toothbrush on my bathroom sink.”

“Then let’s go. I would love nothing more than to fall asleep in your arms again. I love that feeling.”

“Which one, my love?” I ask. I’m never going to get tired of calling her love, of telling her I love her. Of showing her I do, too.

“Safe. I feel safe with you.”

“You are, Nellie, and you always be. Now, let’s go home.”

1 I love her.

THIRTY-THREE

AFTER

SIX MONTHS LATER

Somewhere Over TheRainbow by Christina Perri

Nellie

“I’m never gettingover you two together,” Cara says, walking past me and Gus.

“You’re never getting over it? I’m never getting over how you two—” Roe points at Cara and Manny, “—and you two—” she points at us “—did that. Two sisters with two brothers who also happen to be family friends? Too much to keep track of.”

“At least the babies will stay in the family. No fighting over who will see them when, same set of grandparents,” Gus replies, and I smack him on the chest.

“Babies?” I ask. Our moms won’t stop bringing it up either, and I swear, I will start collecting a toll every time someone mentions kids.

“Yeah, I mean, not now, but, you know, eventually.”

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