Synching With the Devil's Son

Chapter 50

Bella's P.O.V.

I knew Trish was going to be on my case the minute she got me alone. She knows why I didn't want to come camping this weekend, so how do I tell her Lucien has changed my perception of him without sounding insane? She is going to want details about our day together, but I don't know what to tell her. When I think about what we talked about today, how Lucien called me his soul mate, it just felt...I don't know...right somehow. Trish will never understand. I know I cannot tell her Lucien is an angel, I will keep his secret until the day I die, so I turn back to my friend with a smile plastered on my face and try to stall while I think about what to say to her. "My day was great, how was yours?"

Trish narrows her eyes at me. "Don't play coy, you've been alone with Lucien all day. What did you guys do?"

I'll just answer her questions without offering more details, that way I don't have to lie. "We walked and talked," I tell her cryptically. "Found this beautiful meadow and had a picnic together."

"Come on Bella, I'm not stupid. Lucien is a player, and up until this morning, you wanted nothing to do with him," Trish points out reasonably.

"I know, but my opinion of him changed when he found me in the woods last night, cleaned up my wounds and carried me back to camp." I look earnestly at my friend, pleading with my eyes for her to understand. "We spent the day getting to know each other, divulging information about our pasts and our dreams. We are completely compatible and I really like him, Trish."

"Okay," Trish drawls, "but his past is pretty sordid, at least according to the rumor mill. You are able to overlook his philandering?" When I nod and smile at her, she asks, "So how has he acted toward you all day?" she wonders, raising her eyebrows. "Has he been respectful of your person?"

Before I can answer, Lucien comes up behind me, wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my neck. "Do you want cheese on your pasta?" he asks, nuzzling my ear. I cannot see him, but I notice Trish relax a little and smile softly at us.

I squeal at the ticklish sensation and then turn to look at him, smiling. "Yes please, but just a little," I tell him.

"Got it," he says and walks away after kissing my neck again.

I glance at Trish who is looking at me knowingly. "That's what he's been like all day, trying to fulfill my needs before I even realized I had any. He's been gracious and considerate, and my opinion of him has turned one hundred and eighty degrees." Suddenly, I reach out and grab her arm, thinking furiously. "Would you do me a favor?" I ask, turning to look my best friend in her eyes. "I trust your opinion and would like you to observe him tonight, make sure I'm not glossing over any warning signs because of how attracted I am to him. Can do you that for me?"

She nods and smiles, looking over my shoulder at Lucien plating my dinner up for me. "I told you he likes you," she says, squeezing my hand before she walks toward the campfire. I know how fortunate I am to have supportive friends like Trish in my life, and I squeal in excitement as I hurry after her.