Page 95 of A Lie in Church

“Why should I even help you with your lie when you won’t stop? We had a deal, and if you do not keep to your end of the deal, then I won’t help you!” I yelled.

“You don’t understand, and you won’t understand.”

“Try me.”

“There are boundaries, Chloe. Don’t cross them.”

I clenched my hands tightly. “Then, I should leave.”

“The last time I checked, you’re broke, and no one will give you a place to stay; it’s just me. Why don’t you do what you’re here for and stay out of my business? ’Cause I never asked you about the hideous mark on your back.”

My lips faltered. My voice vanished as my body turned pale, like chalk.

CHAPTER20

SILENCE

Tristan’s eyes were impassive as I stared into them. I couldn’t believe what he’d just said. He had seen it, and he’d called it hideous. Did it look that horrifying?

I gave him the meanest look I could muster up and turned away. I ran out of the kitchen with tears blinding my vision as I ran up the stairs to get to my room.

I shut the door and leaned on it, and then I slid slowly to the ground. I tried to stop the sound escaping my lips, but I couldn’t.

Hideous mark?

I pulled my knees to my chest and hugged them tightly as the tears kept falling. I sat there, crying for a long time. I stood up and walked to my closet. I brought my clothes out and pushed them inside my suitcase. Why had I even agreed to help him?

All I could think about right now was proving him wrong. I stopped and slumped on the bed with frustrated tears. I felt so helpless. I zipped up the suitcase. I still had three more suitcases left. I was too angry and couldn’t spend one more minute here.

I dragged the suitcase to the door and stepped out of my room. I rolled it all the way downstairs with tears falling down my cheeks.

“Go to hell!” I yelled as I opened the front door and walked out, pulling hard at my suitcase that didn’t want to move. I let go of the suitcase and kicked it, only to be rewarded with a harsh pain on my toes.

I dragged the suitcase with me, all the way to the gate and down the street. It was dark and quiet outside, a cool breeze dancing in the air. I looked back at Tristan’s mansion as I put a great distance between us. I stopped and let go of the suitcase.

I sat on the suitcase and cried.Where am I even going?I didn’t have a dollar to be proud of. I buried my face in my palms and sobbed.

Ten minutes went by before a black Lamborghini pulled closer and parked on the side of the road. I watched as Tristan stepped out in haste, a worried expression plastered on his face.

I shot him a glare and ignored him. I wiped my tears away and tried to put on a tough face. I played with the strap on my sandals as I waited for an apology and an explanation. From my peripheral vision, I saw him sit on the sidewalk. He said nothing for a while as the snaps of crickets chirping chewed at my ears.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of that. I shouldn’t have said that,” he said, and I stayed silent.

“You have every right to be mad at me. I shouldn’t have come at you like that or said anything about your scar. I have no idea what you went through or how you got it. You don’t have to accept my apology or forgive me right away. I just want you to know I’m sorry for what I said.”

Wasn’t planning on it.

“I didn’t even get a good look at it that day. Ignore everything I said. I was an asshole, trying to avoid conversations about my problems. I don’t like people telling me to control what’s happening, like it’s that easy. Chloe,” he said, pulling closer.

I looked away, trying to hide the tears wetting my cheeks.

“Here,” he said, bringing his hand closer for me to see. There were tiny scars spread on his wrists and on the back of his palm. “Go ahead. Say whatever you want about them. Call them whatever you want if it will make you feel better,” he said, and I gave him an incredulous look.

“Seriously, Tristan?” I asked and pushed his hand away. “I’m not gonna stoop to your level. I can’t believe you would even consider asking me to say bad things about your scars. Is that how you make yourself feel better? By preying on people’s insecurities?”

He said nothing but looked away. He bit down on his lips and looked ahead like he was fighting his emotions.

“I’m sorry,” he said in a voice I could barely hear.