Page 23 of How Sweet It Is

CLAIRE MATTHEWS — TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Islink back from Levi, feeling terrible. I know I’ve hurt his feelings repeatedly. It pains me to keep lying about my celiac disease, but Rafe told me not to say anything. However, he said it only after I pressed him about it. If I hadn’t asked, he might not have told me to keep it a secret.

I mean, it can’t be the end of the world if I tell Levi, right? A lot of people have celiac disease. It doesn’t give away who I am. It’s really only a small piece of trivia. I bite my lip and try to decide who I want to be madder at me, Rafe or Levi.

“I’m sorry,” I squeak out, my throat not working properly. “I haven’t been totally honest with you.”

Levi scrubs a hand over the back of his neck and slides the drawer closed. “Yeah, I figured that part out.”

“I can’t eat gluten,” I say quietly. There. That’s not exactly disobeying Rafe. He only said not to tell people about the celiac disease. There are other reasons why people don’t eat gluten. Then I add, “It makes me sick.”

Levi studies me, and I can see him weighing my response in his mind, trying to figure out if I’m telling him the truth.

“Why didn’t you just tell me that?”

I sigh. I can’t tell Levi why I was lying about it. “It’s not something I like to tell people.”

He pulls a chair over and sits backward, straddling it. “Why not?”

“It’s extremely personal, and I feel uncomfortable talking about it.”

His features soften. “Hey, it’s not that big of a deal. My younger brother is allergic to peanuts. They make his face swell up and everything. I know a lot of people with food sensitivities.”

I try to think of a reason why I didn’t want to admit I can’t eat gluten. Different situations flit through my brain. I say the only thing I can think of. “Well, my reaction to gluten is a bit more embarrassing.”

Levi grins at me. “Do you get gassy?”

“Much worse.”

He wrinkles his nose. “Explosive diarrhea?”

I can’t think of anything more embarrassing than that, so I nod. “Yeah.”

“Oh, man. That’s terrible.” He says it like he means it, although I can tell he’s having a hard time keeping a straight face.

“You’re laughing at me. I can tell.”

He shakes his head while trying to hold his laughter in. “No, I’m not.”

I poke him. “You look like a twelve-year-old boy who just got to work the words ‘explosive diarrhea’ into a conversation.”

He dissolves into laughter. “All right. It’s funny. But I’m not laughing at you.”

His laughter is contagious, and I can’t help but snicker along with him. When we sober, I lean back in my chair. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth.”

He looks thoughtfully at me. “What other lies have you told me?”

I turn away from him, guilt rising inside of me. I’ve told him a lot of lies. But I can’t admit them to him. “We should probably get back to your books.”

“You know, I’m trusting you with some sensitive information. I gave you access to my bank account. You could steal my money and run.”

I look down at my hands. He’s right. I’m a stranger to him, and all I’ve done is lie. How does he know I’m trustworthy?

“But you know, even though I know you’re lying to me about where you’re from, and who that guy is sitting outside of my bakery…”

I jerk my gaze to Levi. He’s seen Rafe outside?

Levi stares at me, his blue eyes drilling holes in me. “I still trust you for some reason. I don’t think you’d steal from me. I’m being stupid, right?”

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