Page 16 of Lies in Promises
“Um, yeah. I’m fine,” I say, not looking away from those eyes.
“Are you sure?” she asks, a shy smile appearing on her face.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
A small giggle escapes her lips, and it’s the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.
“Because you fell about three minutes ago, and you still haven’t gotten up.”
Right.
She probably thinks I’m either severely hurt or a weirdo for staying on the ground after tripping and letting my clothes get soaked.
I throw her a closed-lipped smile and push myself up to sit, not bothering to stand. If I do, I might just fall again.
The second Bennett finds out what I did, he is going to hate me—if he doesn’t already. If I ever go back, he might never talk to me again. I hate it, but it’s something I’m okay with.
I think that’s what’s messing with my emotions.
I’m okay with giving up my brother.
I hate myself for it, but at the same time, I don’t.
Movement to my right takes me out of my thoughts, and I turn just in time to see the girl with the light brown eyes sit down next to me. She is drenched, just like I am, but she doesn’t give a shit, apparently. She just sits there, looking up at the sky.
She’s so damn beautiful.
“What are you doing?” I ask her, transfixed.
The girl turns to look over at me, eyes full of wonder, but there’s something else there. For a second, I want to say it’s love, but she’s a complete stranger. That’s ridiculous.
“Sitting down next to you. You look like you need someone to be close to right now, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m giving you someone to be close to.”
“Why? You don’t even know me.”
She holds out a hand for me to shake.
There is no hesitation in taking it.
Both our hands are ice cold from the rain, but the second our hands touch, there is all the warmth.
“Hi, my name’s Marisela.”
Marisela.
The name suits her.
“Hi, my name’s Robert.”
One handshake, and I feel my whole life has changed.
CHAPTER 8
BENNETT
10 YEARS OLD
Two years.
