Page 4 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

He took a glance at me and threw the phone into the trash can.

“Kayden,” I groaned.

He giggled and ran away.

I got my phone and wiped it with a paper towel. I went back to the living room, where Kayden was hiding behind Mrs. Porter’s seat. I pretended not to see him. He peeped from behind the seat to look at me. He wanted to play peekaboo, his favorite game.

“Mommy?” he called.

I turned to look at him. He started running again, giggling nonstop.

I went after him and scooped him up into my arms. I dropped him gently on the couch.

“Gotcha!” I tickled him and blew raspberries on his stomach, making him giggle.

“I love you.” I kissed his lips.

“I wof you,” he murmured with the most beautiful smile.

This right here was my world. My breath of fresh air. My reason for living. The only thing that helped me get through the worst days.

***

I held my breath as I opened the door to the apartment. I prayed Vina was in a deep sleep.

“Where have you been?” I heard her voice from behind me and jumped, almost peeing on myself from the shock.

“Gosh, Vina!” I touched my chest and tried to calm my racing heart.

“What? You’re the one sneaking in, as always,” she said from where she was sprawled on the couch, watching a reality show with a bag of tortilla chips.

“We closed late today,” I said, taking off my shoes.

“I don’t know what to believe anymore. If you’re seeing someone, just admit it.”

“I’m not seeing anyone. I told you already. A relationship is the—”

“Last thing on your mind. Blah, blah, blah. I know.”

I eyed her and went to the kitchen to grab something to eat.

“Grey came to look for you.”

“Why?” I asked, opening the fridge.

“He wanted to hang out, according to him.”

“Hmm,” I hummed, taking out a leftover and putting it in the microwave.

Grey and I were good friends, but not as close as we had been before. A lot had changed, and none of us could deny that. I had been avoiding him since I’d returned from Cuba. He was dating some girl named Gabriella. They looked good together. I was glad to see he’d moved on. But he was always coming around or texting me to grab dinner or go watch the sunset with him at the beach, like we used to do when we were together. I was uneasy with the idea and decided to avoid him since I felt awful for always giving him an excuse.

Vina was the last person I wanted to hide things from. I wanted her to know about Kayden, but I couldn’t tell her without the thought of her telling someone else. To be honest, I had more trust in strangers than in someone close to me. Mrs. Porter had told me it was much safer to keep Kayden a secret and to avoid getting hurt again.

A pang of guilt hit me as I stared at her from the kitchen island. She’d never forgive me for lying to her for three years. I was scared of getting hurt and betrayed again. There had been many moments when I came close to telling her the whole truth, but then a voice at the back of my head would tell me she could hurt me too.

“What episode is that?” I asked.

“Twelve.”

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