Page 144 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

“I think you do know,” she says in a feisty voice.

I’m not in the mood to go back and forth with someone I hardly know. Plus, if I engage, she might figure out that I’m more worried than angry.

I slam my glass on the bar top. “Good night.” I storm out of my favorite room.

She calls after me, and so does Nero, but I don’t listen.

Chapter Fifty

The Truth Shall Set Me Free

Paisley Grove

Lake’s frown hasn’t changed. I told her all of it—starting from being in the same class with Hercules in high school to making love to him in Boston until the moment he had me escorted out of the VTI building.

“Wow,” she finally whispers. “That’s…” She shakes her head in dismay.

I stare into the cup of echinacea tea she made for me. It contains lemon and honey. Lake swears the potion will keep me from getting sick. I’ve lied to her for weeks. Yet, she’s treating me as though she still wants to be friends.

“I know. It’s insane.” I sigh.

“Well, at least now I know why you and Hercules have such amazing chemistry. You must’ve really hurt him. He likes you a lot.”

I hang my head. “I know…”

“Paisley?” she says in a tender tone.

I lift my head.

She sits up straight. “I forgive you.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I do.”

“But why?

“Because I know how it feels to make the wrong decisions just to make the people you love accept you. I guess the question is, what are you going to do next?”

I turn to gaze out the window to absorb our last exchange of words. Snow and fog mix in the atmosphere. I can't believe I was walking in that for hours. I could’ve died. And the thought of nearly killing myself makes me realize I don’t want to die. I want to live; and I want to do it for myself.

Lake is still waiting for my answer.

“I don’t know,” I reply with a soft shrug. “A large part of me is very relieved that you know the truth and you seem to still like me.”

“Idostill like you,” she replies quickly.

For the first time since arriving, I manage to smile. It's tiny, but it comes from a joyful place deep inside me.

“But you’re going to have to tell Mason the truth,” she says.

My eyes grow wide as I dread having to face him.

“Tell me the truth?” Mason says as he walks out of the dimly lit hallway, wearing pajama bottoms and a T-shirt.

I’m being crushed by doom as I focus on the kind and open way he’s watching me. I want to remember that look on his face—he still likes me. In a few minutes, he’s going to lose all respect for me.

There…