Page 279 of The First Time
It's the first time I've seen him this earnest.
"Does your mother mean that much to you?" I ask.
"She means everything to me."
But lying to her…
Blake is right.
I already agreed to this.
But if he really does need me, I'm the one holding the cards.
I don't know Meryl. I don't know if she'd prefer a comforting lie over a hurtful truth. I have to trust that Blake does know her. That he's making the right choice.
I know my sister.
And she's not going to take lying. "I have to tell Lizzy. I tell her everything or I walk."
He stares back at me. "She's a kid. She'll gossip."
"She won't. And either way, I'm not negotiating this point."
Blake stares into my eyes, picking me apart.
"I want her to meet you. I want you to be friendly."
He nods. "I'll find a break in my schedule."
"Okay." I offer my hand.
He shakes.
Now this is on my terms too.
* * *
I arrivehome at 3 A.M.
Lizzy is sitting on the couch with a worried look on her face.
"What the hell?" She pulls her phone from her pocket and opens her web browser to a gossip site. "Tech CEO Blake Sterling Engaged to Everyday Girl." She makes eye contact. "Quite the fucking compliment."
"It's a school night," I say.
"I'm not going to school tomorrow. I won't hear the end of it."
She stares at me like she's looking for a crack, something she can use to get me to confess.
I'm back in jeans and a sweater. Most of my fancy clothes are in Blake's apartment. He'll probably want me there soon. Until his mom… I don't even want to think it.
"We don't lie to each other. That's the deal, remember?" she says. "The two of us against the world, because the world is obviously against us."
"Of course." That's what I told her after the accident. When I realized how screwed we were. "It's still us against the world. I promise."
"Are you going to tell me what's going on here?" she asks.
"In the morning. I'm too tired to think straight."
