The River Speaks

Chapter Twenty Seven: A While

Chapter Twenty Seven: A While

My mind is racing with a million thoughts a minute.

I just asked Aiden if he had feelings for me and he said no.

He lied. He fucking lied.

And he's in love with me?

I shake my head to myself, cradling my head in my hands.

No. This isn't happening. This can't happen.

I can't lose him.

But I can't keep him now. It's too dangerous.

Run. Go now. Fake your death. You don't have to face this. You don't have to go through this again.

I don't love him. I don't. I'm not in love with him.

I pull my phone off the charger and put it in my back pocket.

I need to go.

I grab the guys for my truck and head out of the kitchen, but before I can, he comes walking out of the bathroom in sweatpants.

He's not wearing a shirt.

"Where are you going?" He asks.

Lie to him.

He lied to you.

"You lied to me." I whisper. My hands are shaking so bad that I shove them into my jacket pockets.

"What?" He asks.

"I asked you if you had feelings for me and you said no. You lied."

Silence. The silence is so thick I can feel it. I feel uneasy. I feel like screaming.

My legs are burning. I need to get out. I need to run.

"Lily," he starts cautiously.

"Don't lie to me." I whisper.

"I'm not going to lie to you." He says. "How do you know?"

Don't cry. Don't cry.

I take a deep breath, then another.

"Lily," he starts.

"Reese." I say.

"Reese told you?" He asks calmly.

"No. I was on your phone and-"

"And you read our messages? Lily, you went through my phone? Why?"

"I didn't mean to." I say shakily.

He's mad. He's mad at me.

He shuts his eyes for a second and then nods.

"So what happened? Did Reese message me?"

"Yes, and I tried to swipe it, but, but I clicked on it on accident."

"Okay, so you saw the messages. How much?"

"All of it."

"Everything? Even the stuff from yesterday?"

"There's stuff from yesterday?" I whisper.

"Uh..." he clears his throat. "Yes."

"Why did you lie to me?" I ask.

"Because I knew you weren't ready." He says calmly. "Lily-"

"I can't, Aiden. I-"

"I'm not asking you to." He says.

"No, ever. I can't ever."