Love's Deception

Chapter 21 - Us

Lies are damaging to a relationship, it's only something known by many people. Everyone lies. You lie, your parents lie, your siblings lie, your friends lie, your partner lies. We all do, whether they're small lies or really big lies that can truly have an effect on your life if anyone were to find out.

Why do we lie? Do we lie to protect others, or to protect ourselves? What if it's both? We can lie to protect someone's safety or their feelings. But we can also lie for our own selfish reasoning. To protect ourselves and things that we have done in our lifetime. Is any of it right?

A relationship can't be built on a lie. It's not right, but what if it's the only option? If you continue to hold up the lie, it can become real. Even when it's still a lie, little parts of it can become real. So, I guess I was wrong. A relationship can be built on a big fat lie.

****

The night after the gala, I wake up feeling refreshed, but when I roll over to find Jace, he's not there. I sit up in bed and call out for him. No response. Crawling out of bed, I grab one of his dress shirts laying on the floor. I button it up and walk into the living room.

Still no Jace. I go back to the bedroom and grab my phone. After the threats from the leader last night, I don't like waking up and not finding him here. He's fine, right? My mind is spiraling.

I'm about to call Jace's number in a frenzy when the door opens and he walks in. I walk out of the bedroom and find him standing there wearing his casual clothes, and holding something behind his back.

"I was worried," I say as I rub my head.

Jace laughs, "I'm sorry."

"Where were you?"

Jace plants a smile on his face, "I just went to go grab something."

From behind his back, he pulls out a heart-shaped box of chocolate. I hear myself squeal, which is something I rarely do, and I grab the chocolate from him and run to the bedroom.

Sitting on the bed, I open up the large box and reveal a ton of delicious-looking chocolate. Jace follows me and joins me on the bed.

"You sure know how to woo a girl," I say while taking my first bite.

"I know you like your sweets, so I wanted to surprise you."

I give him a kiss on the cheek, "Thank you."

Jace lays down on the bed and turns on the TV. With a mouth full of chocolate, I look at him and frown. As he watches the TV, I climb on his lap and straddle it. I take a piece of chocolate and eat it in front of him, still frowning.

"What are you doing?"

Reaching down, I grab the remote from Jace and turn off the TV, "I'd rather just talk with you."

Jace nods and places one hand on my thigh and I feed him a piece of chocolate. Jace tries to reject it at first, saying he doesn't eat chocolate. But I insist and the stubborn bastard finally eats it.

"What do you want to do today?" Jace asks me.

Billings wants me to come in today. So that means I can't be with Jace much, if at all. Who knows how long my Cobra work will take today.

I frown, "I actually have to leave soon to go see a friend."

"That's fine," Jace rubs my thigh, "I have to do some work, anyways."

"Jace. It's the day after the gala. You've been working all month, relax."

"As much as I'd love to, Ms. Collins, I can't."