Page 12 of Lies Like Love

I force one that feels so fake there’s no way she doesn’t notice, but she ignores it as she walks away.

These events make me dread my life. And ever since Dad died we’ve been attending them more often. Mom might think I’m blind to the reason behind it, but just because I’m fourteen, doesn’t mean I don’t see what she’s doing.

Some people are good at being alone, and she isn’t one of them. She needs direction, status, money. I’d like to think she’s looking for love in this sea of snakes, but that’s not something Mom cares about.

Survival.

Getting us through losing him without sacrificing our lifestyle—it’s all that matters to her.

I make my way to the edge of the room and grab a book off a shelf, dropping onto a couch sitting against a far wall. At least this event is being held at a historic library, so I can bury myself between the pages of an old book and pretend everyone around me doesn’t exist.

Mom won’t mind anyway. As long as I’m keeping to myself and not making waves, she doesn’t care what I’m doing. If anything, this helps her case of selling me as the perfect potential stepdaughter to whatever man she ends up charming this evening.

Flipping open the book, I realize it’s much older than I thought. The pages are worn, and the spine is cracked. Some of the corners are turned down and I wonder how many times it’s been read. Wrinkles and tears giving something inanimate life. A story heard so many times, that even when it’s set aside, it lives on in the minds that carry it.

The book is an older version of Red Riding Hood, one I’m not familiar with. The tone is darker, and the girl doesn’t fear the wolf in this one. She willingly escaped her life for the forest, and even if it scares her, it makes her feel alive.

I can’t help but wonder what it’s like to be that girl, brave enough to truly experience something when I’ve never been allowed to.

“Thought the sign said hands off.”

I jump at the voice coming up beside me and slap the book shut.

Looking up, a boy around my age is standing beside the couch with his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze drops to the now closed book in my hands, and he smirks.

“Joking.” He shakes his head with a chuckle, and it tussles his sandy brown hair. “No one gives a shit what you do with the books as long as you don’t interrupt their party.”

He circles until he’s dropping into the empty spot on the couch beside me. His eyes scan the room and I’m thankful I’m not the only one here who seems to hate parties like this. It makes me feel less alone.

Finally, his gaze returns to the book in my hands. “What are you reading?”

“Not quite sure. Some fairytale.” I tuck the book to the side, wondering if he thinks I’m childish for reading a kid’s story. It’s the last thing I want him to think, as his green gaze holds mine and my world turns emerald.

“Isn’t this the fairytale?” He waves an arm out to the room of pretentious people, who are pretending to care about whatever conversation they’re in the middle of.

“That’s what they’d like us to think.” I chew my bottom lip, suddenly nervous. “You new to town?”

Mom drags me to these types of social gatherings every weekend, so I’ve met anyone she deems worthy of her presence. After a while, all the faces are the same. But I’ve never seen him, I’m sure of it. Not even at school.

“Dad’s tech company just transferred here from Seattle.” His eyes scan the room once more, until he finds a man in the crowd I assume is his father. “So yeah, guess I am. I’m Jude.”

“Felicity.” I swallow at the lump in my throat. “But my friends just call me Fel.”

“Fel, huh?” He smirks.

Dangerous. Tempting. A warning sign he’s nothing but trouble.

“I’ve heard all the jokes, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Except something about the darkness in his smile tells me he does.

“Fel… like: I fell for you the moment I saw you. Or my favorite: You must be an angel because you look like you fell from heaven. Guys always think they’re so creative.”

“They actually say that shit?” Jude chuckles, shaking his head.

I nod.

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