Page 129 of A Lie in Church

“Where is Morris?” I asked in a cold tone.

“I told him to spend the night with his family,” he said, leaning closer and resting both hands on the table.

His tousled blond hair was begging to be touched. My eyes lingered at the stray hair that had fallen to his forehead.

This is not the time to look sexy, Tristan.

I moved my eyes back to his that held different emotions I couldn’t pinpoint.

“This is for you,” he said, picking up something from the floor.

He outstretched the box of red roses to me, and I only stared, not taking it. Did he think it was going to be this easy?

“Please,” he said.

I hesitated before taking it. I picked up the card inside.Sorry for all the shit I said.

I took a glance at him, and he was staring at me like a nervous kid. I put the flowers away and said nothing. He reached for a wineglass and opened the bottle of wine. He poured me some. I eyed him suspiciously as I took the wine and put the glass down.

“What’s all this about?” I asked.

“I know you want me to keep my distance, but I can’t. It’s been hard without you. I feel like I’m suffocating every night, and just the sound of your footsteps from across the room takes away the pain. Even if you’re so close, I still miss you, and it’s killing me.”

He looked tormented as he stared at me, waiting for me to say something but I remained silent.

“I want us to start over, which includes being patient with each other. I promise I will tell you everything you need to know—not all at once, but baby steps,” he said. He sounded desperate.

“Why does it matter? It was lust all along.”

“No,” he said sharply. He exhaled and buried his face in his palms and then brushed his hands back to his neck. “That’s not true, Chloe.”

“Then, prove it to me. Show me,” I said, looking into his eyes.

He looked shattered and seemed to be in battle with his emotions.

Just let me in, please, I wanted to say.

“I don’t get it. What is so important about this Nadia?” I asked, throwing my hands in the air.

I waited for him to say something, but he didn’t.

Please say something.

“Why is her name tattooed on your skin? Is she somehow connected to whatever you have going on?” I inquired, but he was still quiet.

His eyes looked at anywhere but my face.

“Tell me something, anything!” I asked, leaning closer to the table.

He shook his head, as if the questions were too much for him. I wanted to pull away and let go of it.

“She doesn’t exist! She is not real!” he yelled.

CHAPTER26

8 LETTERS

“What?” I mumbled. “But you … she … how?”