Page 201 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

Luckily, I have a huge queen-sized bed in the room. I drop to my hands and knees and slide under it just as I hear, “LC has entered.”

8:43 p.m.

I’m so thankful that I turned off my cell phone right after James dropped me off. I predicted Max would be calling. He’s a smart one, that Max. After making Lake check just about every nook and cranny, including the rooftop deck, he called my phone. He left after the call went straight to voicemail yet again.

“I told you she’s not here,” Lake said in an innocent voice. “Come on, Max. Let me walk you out.”

“It’s fine,” Max groused as the door closed behind them.

I check my watch. I wore it today because I thought I would be working with my team. Time is of the essence when we’re building software together. It’s taxing to break out my cell phone every time I need to know what time it is.

The security system announces LC has entered.

“Paisley?” Her voice echoes through my apartment. “He’s gone. I made sure of it.”

I quickly slide from under the bed and stride into the living room. I’m so overwhelmed with relief to see her that I hold my arms out and don’t stop closing the distance between us until we’re hugging and I’m sobbing.

She strokes my hair consolingly. “Oh, Paisley, don’t worry. We’ll put our minds together and figure this out.”

8:59 p.m.

We keep the lights off as we sit on the sofa. I give her a play-by-play of what happened at VTI this morning. Lake doesn’t seem surprised by any of what I say. As a matter of fact, she’s watching me with uncharacteristically judgmental eyes.

“Why are you looking at me that way?” I snap.

“Because, Paisley, I don’t think you and Hercules are firmly operating in reality.”

I grimace, trying to figure out why she would say that. But it doesn’t take much contemplation to conclude that she might be right.But still…

“Listen…” Lake says, pulling her feet off the floor to cross her legs. “It’s apparent that you and Hercules love each other, right?”

I shrug.

“Come on, Paisley. Say it out loud. Right?”

I shake my head rapidly. “Okay, right.”

“But he’s engaged—still. And that one kiss, which has now gone viral.”

“Viral?” barely squeaks out of my mouth.

“Yes, viral. And the recording definitely has your brother acting deranged. I now understand what Eden and Jillian put up with in college. He can be scary, Paisley.”

My shoulders cave inward. “I know.”

“But I’m not scared of him,” she says with bold roll of the eyes. “However, the point is, I can see the big-ass wall made of steel that’s hell-bent on keeping you and Hercules apart.”

“I know that already,” I say in a snarky tone. Hearing it again isn’t helping.

“Yeah, but from where I sit, you and Hercules are not trying to scale that wall, not really. You’re finding workarounds. I mean, really, Paisley. You wanted to work at his company behind your parents’ back. What are you? Fifteen years old? And that’s exactly how Max is treating you. As if you’re a kid. Act your age already. And what do you want, Paisley.”

My frown deepens as I stare at Lake. That was a mouthful of a lot I needed to hear. My friend has the face of an angel—beautiful, kind, soft, bold and wise beyond her years.

“Truthfully, I don’t know what I want. Not really.”

“Why not?” she doesn’t hesitate to ask. Lake is sure not taking the pressure off me.

“Because…”