Page 27 of Perfect Liar

“Thanks for that. I guess I’ve been in the dark all my life, and I want only the truth from now on, even if it hurts. So please don’t hide anything from me.”

“Deal,” he said.

“When were you here, Will? When and where did I see you?”

“The first time I came over, there wasn’t any imminent danger. My father had forbidden it, but I had to see you, to know that you were real. This whole thing, the pact between our families, it all seemed mad to me, like it does for you now.”

Sincerity burned in his eyes, and his words captivated me.

I encouraged him to give me more.

“Go on, Will. Tell me everything, the whole story.”

“You were seventeen. It was during the town’s summer festival. You walked along the main boulevard, laughing, eating ice cream with your friends. Someone in the crowd shoved past you, causing you to fall forward, and I caught you.”

He moved his gaze to the horizon. His eyes seemed unfocused, and a self-indulgent smile curved his mouth.

“You looked up at me, and you smiled. I asked if you were all right, and you apologized. I’ve never forgotten your smile or your beautiful green eyes.”

A sharp breath caught in my throat. I remembered.

When he looked at me again, his smile was gone.

“Four years later, I came back. That time it was impulsive, driven by my ego. I knew it was quite reckless of me…I just didn’t care. You were at university then. I beat someone for following you across campus one night.”

“You did that,” I whispered.

His eyes charged with emotion.

“You should know, Ellie, if you hadn’t turned back, that man would be dead.”

I stared at Will, remembering the guy who had threatened to find me, because I wouldn’t leave the party with him. Jess and I found him lying on the ground, brutally beaten, and we called campus police and 911.

“I’m not a good man. You need to understand that about me.”

I continued staring at him…choosing to see in him only what I wanted to see.

“After that, how long did you stay?” I asked.

“I spent seven more days, trying to convince myself that you needed me.”

“And did I need you…was someone coming after us at that time?”

“No.”

“I don’t know what to say about any of this, Will.”

He shook his head.

“You don’t have to say anything. I left because it was a critical time for me to be in London. Ethan and I executed the partnership agreement for our private equity company two weeks earlier.”

He stood and offered his hand to help me up.

“Back inside now.”

I nodded. I had agreed to do what he said, when he said it.

“Lissie, let’s gather your things. It’s time to go inside,” I said.