Page 17 of The Truth in My Lies (Secrets of Suburbi 1)

“I do want your help, but you can’t come this weekend.”

“Big plans?”

“You could say that. Monday. Please. Just…come back on Monday.” My eyes darted to the clock on the wall and suddenly it felt like I was out of time. It was nearly 3 o’clock. I only had a few hours left.

“Okay.”

“Promise me you won’t come back until Monday.”

“I promise,” he said with a laugh. “Until Monday then.” He started walking toward the front hall.

“No! I mean, could you leave out the back? I don’t want anyone else to see you.”

“You do realize how this looks?” he said as he backtracked and opened up the back door. “Me sneaking out the back of your house in shame?”

It made it look like we were having an affair. It just further validated the rumors that were certainly spreading at that very moment. “Fine. Go out the front door then.”

“It’s okay. I won’t mind the rumors.” He winked at me and went down the back stairs without another word.

I pushed the ice off my leg and hopped over to the back door. I couldn’t resist pushing aside the curtains. Even the back of his head was handsome. I watched him as he disappeared into the woods. And I couldn’t help but wonder if he had the same fears as me. I let the curtain fall back to place. Of course he didn’t. Someone would be able to hear him scream. Someone would come to his rescue. I double locked the door. But it wouldn’t be me.

Chapter 9

I emptied the dustpan into the trash and froze. There was nothing in the trash bin except for the dust.

I tipped it closer toward me. It had been filled to the brim yesterday, hadn’t it? I nodded to myself even though I was alone. Definitely. I always took the trash out on Friday afternoons when I got everything else ready.

Had Ben taken out my trash? Who came to someone’s house without an invitation and took out their trash? What else had he done? I looked around the spotless kitchen.

I pushed the trash bin back into place. God, I don’t have time for this. I could thank him later. I hopped back to the laundry room, hung the dustpan on its hook, and glanced at my watch. 5:37. I only had a few minutes left. But everything was set. Perfect timing.

I wiped my hands on the front of my pants. Crap. I looked down at my yoga pants. Not quite perfect timing. I had to change.

The stairs were even more difficult now that my arms were tired from scrubbing everything for the past two hours. And I wished that Ben was still here. I immediately dismissed the thought. I needed to stop dreaming of his arms around me. I needed to just…stop. Ben wasn’t mine. He’d never be mine.

I rubbed my palm halfway up the stairs. Why did my body ache for his touch so desperately? I remembered the feeling of his fingers on the back of my hand. It wasn’t in my imagination. There was a spark. And by the way he was acting, he felt it too. He wanted me back. How had I let this happen?

I looked back down at my watch. Only five more minutes. I held back the tears as I slowly climbed up the steps one at a time. It took every ounce of willpower not to collapse once I reached my bedroom. I was exhausted again. It felt like I could sleep another 24 hours straight.

5:43. There was no time left to change. I crawled into the room and opened the top drawer of my nightstand. I picked up the rings. They always felt so damn heavy. But today, they felt even heavier than usual. I slid them onto my finger and stared down at the diamond that was way too big. At the time, I didn’t understand it’s extravagance. I sighed and closed the drawer.

Maybe he wouldn’t come home. All it took was one careless driver. One text. One drink. One. Single. Slip. It seemed so simple. If only I was so lucky.

The sound of the front door unlocking made me cringe. I pulled myself onto the bed. I was injured. I’d feign rest. I pushed down the covers to try to pretend I’d been in bed for awhile.

“Adeline! I’m home!”

His voice made all the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Home? This was never a home. He had made sure of that. All my energy was sapped by just the idea of him, let alone his presence. I heard his feet on the stairs and squeezed my eyes shut. Leave me be.

“Babe?”

Babe. An affectionate name that didn’t belong anywhere in this house. Vomit rose in the back of my throat and I did my best to swallow it down.

His steps drew closer and the bed sagged beneath his weight. “Adeline.” He gently touched the side of my face.

I groaned and turned away from him.

His fingers didn’t move with me, and they dug into my jaw. Just a tiny bit. Just enough that they’d wake me if I had been asleep. Just enough to make it feel like my heart stopped beating. He didn’t believe my act. That much was clear. This wasn’t the way to start a whole weekend of him.

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