Between Lies and Love

Chapter 7

A few months passed, and though the unease from the park incident lingered in Lizzy's mind, things between her and Y/N seemed to settle into a steady rhythm. Y/N hadn't brought up the moment again, and Lizzy, though constantly aware of the secret she was hiding, found herself drawn deeper into the warmth of their relationship. The days were filled with laughter, quiet nights in, and stolen moments of intimacy that Lizzy never imagined she could have.

It was a Saturday afternoon when they found themselves tangled up on Y/N's couch, the remnants of takeout containers scattered on the coffee table. A light movie was playing on the TV, but neither of them was paying much attention. Instead, Y/N was attempting to balance a fortune cookie on Lizzy's forehead, laughing uncontrollably every time it wobbled and fell off.

"Hold still," Y/N said, trying and failing to keep a straight face. "I'm gonna get it this time."

Lizzy rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "You've said that three times already."

Y/N shot her a playful look. "Fourth time's the charm."

With exaggerated concentration, Y/N placed the fortune cookie delicately on Lizzy's forehead. Lizzy did her best to stay perfectly still, but the second Y/N leaned back, the cookie slipped off and fell into her lap.

Y/N dissolved into laughter, falling back against the couch and clutching their stomach. "Okay, okay, maybe I'm not cut out for fortune cookie balancing."

Lizzy picked up the cookie and shook her head with a smirk. "You think?"

Y/N sat up, brushing hair out of their eyes, their expression softening as they looked at Lizzy. "Hey, don't blame me. You're the one with the distracting face."

Lizzy raised an eyebrow, amused. "Distracting how?"

Y/N grinned, leaning in closer. "Distracting in a 'you're-too-cute-for-your-own-good' kind of way."

Lizzy felt her cheeks flush slightly, and she nudged Y/N with her shoulder. "You're ridiculous."

Y/N laughed again, but there was something more tender in the way they leaned forward, brushing a strand of Lizzy's hair behind her ear. The moment shifted—still light, still playful—but with an undercurrent of something deeper, something that had always existed between them but felt more potent now.

Lizzy's heart skipped a beat as Y/N's fingers gently trailed along her jawline, their eyes locking. "You know," Y/N murmured softly, "I don't think I tell you enough how much I love being with you."

Lizzy's breath hitched. The warmth of Y/N's touch, the affection in their voice—it all felt so perfect. Lizzy leaned into Y/N's hand, her own reaching up to cover it. "You don't have to tell me," Lizzy whispered. "I can feel it."

Y/N's smile softened, and they pressed a light, lingering kiss to Lizzy's forehead. "Still, I like saying it."

Lizzy chuckled, her gaze flicking to Y/N's lips before she leaned in for a real kiss. It was slow and sweet, filled with the kind of tenderness that had been building between them for months. When they finally pulled away, Y/N grinned and picked up the fortune cookie from Lizzy's lap.

"Maybe the cookie will have some wisdom for us," Y/N said with a wink, cracking it open. They pulled out the tiny slip of paper and read it aloud. "Love is in the air, and it smells like... noodles."

Lizzy snorted. "That's the worst fortune I've ever heard."

Y/N tossed the cookie piece into their mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "Hey, maybe it's a sign. Takeout and love go hand in hand."

Lizzy laughed, her head resting on Y/N's shoulder. "Well, in that case, we're set for life."

For a few minutes, they sat there in comfortable silence, Lizzy nestled against Y/N, their fingers intertwined. The warmth between them was real, steady. It was moments like this that made everything feel simple, as if the shadows of her past couldn't touch her while she was wrapped up in Y/N's presence.

Later, as the afternoon light faded into a soft orange glow, Y/N shifted on the couch, pulling Lizzy closer. "You know," they mused, their voice low, "we haven't really planned that weekend getaway yet."

Lizzy tilted her head to look at Y/N, a small smile playing on her lips. "Oh yeah? I thought you'd forgotten about that."

Y/N shook their head, the playful glint returning to their eyes. "I could never forget about something that involves you, me, and a cabin in the middle of nowhere."

Lizzy laughed softly, feeling the lightness of the moment but also the weight of what it meant. She loved the idea of getting away with Y/N, of spending time together without any distractions or worries. But there was always that tiny voice in the back of her mind, the one that reminded her that she wasn't being completely honest.

For now, though, Lizzy pushed that voice away. "Okay, let's do it," she said, her smile brightening. "Pick a place, and we'll make it happen."

Y/N's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Deal. I'll find the perfect spot, I promise."

Lizzy leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Y/N's cheek. "I know you will."

The rest of the evening passed in the same easy rhythm—light, fun, and full of quiet affection. They teased each other, watched half of a movie they barely paid attention to, and spent more time laughing than anything else. It was one of those nights where everything just felt right, as if they had carved out their own little piece of happiness in the world.

Lizzy knew she was falling deeper for Y/N every day, and though the weight of her secret still loomed, in these moments, she allowed herself to just be. To love and be loved.

Whatever happened next, whatever challenges lay ahead, for now, they had this. And that was enough.