The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

“You got two yesterday,” I countered, still pissed at my slip-up.

“So?” He raised a brow. “That was your accident, not mine.”

“True,” I sighed. “You go first then.”

I didn’t feel as much pressure if Liam spoke first.

“You know that ‘meeting’ I had the other day?”

“The one where you ditched your parent’s the whole day?”

“Yeah.” He nodded with a laugh. “I really did have a meeting, but it was much later than when I left.”

“That’s not your truth, is it?” I glared at him. “Because that’s pathetic, and you know it.”

“No,” he laughed outright, “my truth is what my meeting was for.”

“Oh.” I felt stupid for jumping down his throat.

He stared at me through his narrowed icy-blue eyes, and his lips twitched as he fought a smile. He couldn’t contain it, though, and it slowly spread. “I was with my manager, and I signed a contract.”

“A contract?” I prompted.

“For my first clothing sponsorship. It’s a big deal, and I love the company and the guy running it, so I’m happy.”

I stared at him in a little bit of awe. “I get the impression that’s not something you say often.”

“What?” He looked confused.

“That you’re happy.”

He nodded at my words. “I guess you’re right; I don’t say that often.” He ran his fingers through his hair and set his face into hard lines. “Your turn.”

I nibbled on my bottom lip, thinking about something I could give him that would be a truth but wasn’t too personal.

“I did ballet for five years when I was little. I liked it, but I didn’t love it.” I shrugged, gliding my hand over the tops of the tall grasses.

“Hmm,” he hummed, mulling that over. “A dancer?” He waggled his brows.

“Stop it,” I laughed, swatting his arm.

I couldn’t believe how easily I was smiling and laughing around him. The last few weeks had been difficult and Liam had done nothing to make it any easier with his constant glares and harsh words. But he was trying, and it seemed like he was maybe even starting to like me, and if I admitted it to myself, I was beginning to like him too.

I closed my eyes with the thought.

Stop getting attached, Ari, I scolded myself.

Too late.

Clearing his throat, Liam said, “Please don’t say anything to my parents about the sponsorship. I haven’t told them or anyone else yet.”

I stared at him in shock. “I’m the first person you told?” I couldn’t believe what he was saying.

He shrugged. “It’s not that big of a deal. Don’t make it into something it’s not.” He stood up and dusted the sand from his swim shorts. “You should head inside. It’s getting dark.”

He walked off, grabbed his board, and stalked toward the stairs leading to his house.

What the hell?