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Chapter Twenty-One
“Cate!”
Theo bounds around the corner after me. I don’t turn back, I can’t. Tears are streaking down my rosy cheeks, and I want to be alone. I need to be alone.
“Cate, wait!” He easily catches up and steps in front of me, cutting me off from advancing to the hotel. “Where are you going? Are you crying?” He reaches his hand toward my face, but I avoid his touch. Theo’s eyes widen, he looks hurt, confused, concerned. “What’s going on? Did Liam say something to upset you?”
“No.” I shake my head, wrapping my arms around my torso. “I can’t do this anymore,” I wheeze.
“Is it because my family keeps talking about us getting married and having kids?” He points back toward the wedding reception down the beach. “Because I’ll tell them to lay off.”
“It’s not them.” I wipe my tears with my palms, knowing I am probably smearing my perfectly done make-up across my face. “They are all so wonderful.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Theo stretches his hand toward mine but stops short. He is probably worried I’ll rip my arm back.
My watery eyes meet his. “I can’t lie to them anymore. They seem to like me -”
“They love you.”
“That’s the problem. They love me and don’t know I’m a fraud.”
“Catalina -”
“Your sister knows.” I blurt and he actually looks surprised.
“What?”
“Tess overheard us at your parents’ house. Something about our deal. She’s been on to us from the beginning.” I start gnawing at my fingers. “What if she’s told someone? Or she’s waiting to expose us?”
“Tess wouldn’t do that.” Theo takes a step toward me, his hands up where I can see them. “If she knows, she’ll just try to mess with me when it suits her. It’s a game. She would never expose us to the family.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“She’s my sister.” Theo rubs his hands through his hair, as if he knows that is not a solid enough reason. “When we were in high school, I caught her sneaking a boy in and out of the house. I let her think she was getting away with her secret rendezvous until she pissed me off and I told her I knew her secret. I never told our parents. That’s not how we do things. This is the same situation.”
“This situation was already messing with me, Theo. I’ve been having panic attacks and nightmares of your family finding out and…”
“What?” Theo’s eyes are fixed on mine, seeking clarification. “What are you afraid of?”
“I have fallen in love with your family. That’s why I can’t do this anymore.” My chest rises and falls sporadically; my heart beating viciously. “I don’t want to hurt them.”
“Neither do I.”
“And when they find out we lied to them? Then what?”
“They won’t.”
“Lies are always exposed, Theo. It’s only a matter of time at this point. Or your sister’s temperament.”
Theo rubs the nave of his neck, “It’s a little late to worry about that, Catalina.”
I crinkle my nose and brush him away from touching me. “You should have told them the truth from the beginning, Theo.”
Theo takes a step closer, his voice lowered. “We are leaving tomorrow. Just please keep it together a little longer.”
I notice his eyes flicker from mine over my shoulder and know he is trying to make sure no one comes close enough to overhear of our deception. I push past him, walking further from the wedding party, Theo at my six.
“Catalina!” Theo grabs my wrist and I whip around, pulling my arm from his grasp, eyes furrowed, nostrils flared.
