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Once inside the library, I shut the door but didn’t go over to where Sofi was standing. I wanted to be by her side, but I didn’t want to draw attention to the relationship.
“I have to thank you,” Aurelia said to me. Then she looked at Sofi. “Both of you.”
“Thank me?” I asked, confused. She didn’t sound like she was being sarcastic.
“I like you, Deklin, and I thought if I had to keep pretending, doing it with you wouldn’t be awful.”
Now, I really had no clue what was going on. Sofi’s expression, however, made me think that she was figuring it out.
“I’m gay.” Aurelia closed her eyes and took in a shuddering breath, looking like the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. “That’s the first time I’ve ever said it out loud.”
“Aurelia?” I took a step.
She opened her eyes. “Five years ago, my brother Pierce came out to our family as bisexual, and everything imploded. He’d met a guy and wanted to introduce him to the family. Instead, they ended up moving to Nashville and getting married, and he hasn’t spoken to any of us since.”
“I’m so sorry,” Sofi murmured, putting her hand on Aurelia’s shoulder.
“I was sixteen when it happened. I don’t know a lot of the details because they tried to protect me from it, but I knew enough to understand I couldn’t talk to my parents about what I was starting to suspect.”
“That you were gay.” I saw the past few months in a new light now, pieces clicking into place.
She nodded. “I’m terrified that I’ll lose my family if they know the truth.”
“Which is why you went along with the engagement.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Aurelia said. “Deceiving you like that.”
I shook my head. “No, you have nothing to feel guilty about. You were in an impossible position.”
“I feel awful that our dads are so mad about it.” Her expression became pleading. “But I’m not ready to come out yet. I’ll keep telling them that I’m okay with it, that I see that we’re better friends than lovers.”
“It’s okay.” Sofi gave Aurelia a gentle hug. “We’re not going to tell anyone.”
“She’s right,” I agreed. “I promise you, neither one of us will tell anyone about you. Now that I know you’re okay, I don’t care what anyone else thinks. Not even my dad.”
Aurelia’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “Why would you do that for me?”
I reached out and squeezed her hand. “Because we’re friends, Aurelia. I meant it when I said I liked you, and I don’t want to lose our friendship. As long as you’re okay, nothing else matters.”
“Whatever you need, we’ll be there,” Sofi said quietly. “You don’t have to go through this alone.”
As the two women hugged, I realized that I didn’t deserve either one of them. They were far better people than I could ever hope to be.
Twenty-Nine
Sofi
I didn’t knowwho was more relieved at Aurelia’s admission, Deklin or me. I knew he’d been feeling guilty about breaking things off with her, and he didn’t even have all of the information about why that best for everyone. Keeping that and the truth about why I was here had been compounded by my guilt over hurting someone innocent. Then I’d met her and realized she was even sweeter than I’d believed. If she hadn’t pulled us aside, I might have ended this whole charade and demanded Jude confess to the whole thing.
Now, the only guilt I still had was about lying to Deklin. If it was this bad for me and I wouldn’t have to really deal with any fallout when things between us ended, I couldn’t imagine what it was like for Jude. Granted, Deklin would never know his grandfather’s role, but Jude would have to continue keeping secrets from everyone. I didn’t think I could do that.
The three of us left the library together. I had no intention of breaking my promise to her, but it wouldn’t hurt anything if everyone saw us come back to the table together, smiling and clearly at ease with each other. I hoped it might even ease the tension between Deklin and his father.
What I didn’t really want to consider was that, with this new information, there no longer needed to be any worry that Deklin would resume his relationship with Aurelia once I was out of the picture. All I had to do was tell Jude that he didn’t have to worry anymore, and I could go home with a bigger bank account balance than I’d ever dreamed.
I had a visit with Dallas tomorrow evening, so I’d be flying home tomorrow anyway. It’d be easy for that to be it. Talk to Jude, get on a plane in the morning, and never come back. I’d get the job Jude had promised me, hire a great lawyer, and I’d never be at Mead’s mercy again.
A two-minute conversation, and it’d be all over.