Innocence Lost

Chapter 56

I woke up bright and early the next morning, feeling refreshed. Dylan really made me feel better last night and helped get my mind off of our fearless leader. While getting out of bed I decided I really wanted to get a run in before I started my day.

I quickly dressed into my training gear and ran into Amanda on my way out. She had spent the night at Tyler's since she wanted to spend as much time with him as possible before he left for the fence early this morning. He won't be back in the compound for at least a month. Since she was wide awake she decided to join me.

"Feeling better I see" she says as we run.

"Yeah, I guess. Why do you ask?"

"You weren't feeling well the other night. You look great now so I figure I ask?

"Oh, yeah. I'm feeling much better"

Damn, I forgot I had told the girls I wasn't feeling well the other night. Amanda sucks on her bottom lip and smirks. After a moment she looks at me curiously and I feel a knot start to form in my stomach. Amanda gets a look on her face like she wants to say something.  Instead she doesn't say anything as we stop to catch our breath.

"So what was wrong with you?" She finally asked after a long silence.

"I don't know. I guess I was extremely tired from the final test and everything that happened"

I look up to see Amandas lips pursed as she gazes at me, shaking her head. The unsatisfied look on her face starts to piss me off.

"What? What is it?" I ask in an irritated tone.

"One thing we learned in Candor is when someone is lying"

I sign deeply. I guess this is the perfect opportunity to update her about my Eric situation. She listened as I told her everything, including our night and morning together before the final text. She patiently waited for me to finish before she could put her two cents in.

Typical Candor.

"I knew something was up" she laughed "Kate, I'm not judging you. I'm a little hurt that you think you have to lie to me, especially after knowing you fucked Eric before"

"I know, Amanda I'm sorry. It was the last time, it's not happening ever again"

"Yeah yeah, say that all you want. There's something more that's going on between you two"

"Oh please. Like what?" I ask curiously.

"Like you've been sleeping with him for some time now and you can't seem to stop. Are you...do you have..." She trails off.

"What?  Do I have feelings for Eric?"

Amanda arches her brow. She doesn't break eye contact as I glare at her, pissed off that she's seeing right through me.

"I don't know. I thought I did in the beginning but now I think it's just lust. I mean it's Eric fucking Coulter we are talking about. How could I have feelings for someone who is just so mean and vile?"

"Well what if he has feelings for you?  Would that change your mind?" She asks.

"Eric does not have feelings for me, he's made it perfectly clear that it's just sex"

"Do you really think Eric is only using you for sex? Because if you do, you seem to have forgotten the fact that despite being a fucking asshole, he's also hot as fuck and a leader.  You really think he'd have a problem getting laid around here? The girls are lining up to get in his bed. However he doesn't seem to want anyone but you from what you told me"