AllFreeNovel
Share Us
To the tying down too?
I licked my lips and sent back.Not sure. And I wasn’t.
Good. Talk to you soon. Tiger.
A pang went through my chest as I read the name. Tiger. Shortening it hurts less, though tiger by itself sure didn’t describe how we were together.
More like a kitten with you. Talk to you soon. Miss you.
He wrote back.My little tiger. We’ll webcam this weekend. Get some rest.
My heart squeezed. His tiger. Did he really think I belonged to him? Well as his companion, I did. In more ways than that if I had my way. If I could assert my will, but why push a man that doesn’t want what you want? Mary was right. If he knew the truth I’d lose him. I’m losing him with every conversation, every share, and every dose of his company.
I touched my face and winced. Tracing with my fingertips the puffiness on my forehead. The lie hung in the air and around my neck like a noose.
Weak and stupid.No. I wouldn’t allow Dec to hit me or even speak to him again.
More Lies.You’re Declan’s girl. Forever and always.
I didn’t want to think about that. I had five days before seeing Jonas. Perhaps I could delay and see him later. Give me more time to heal my face and cover my heart. So I could continue lying? “Lies only lead to more lies. Before you know it, you’ve lost yourself in lies,” my father taught me and he was right. Still I became a liar to them and everyone. All for a man that I used to love and couldn’t hate.
My stomach soured as my conscience continued to badger me. When would the lies end? Would I be able to face everyone when they do? Would I be alone? Fear shot through me and I fought back to avoid it consuming me.I can’t deal with this right now.I turned up the volume on the TV to drown out my thoughts and gave myself to the adventure before me.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
‡
My headache wokeme Saturday morning. Sharp stabbing pains. I touched my forehead. Swollen, throbbing sharp stabs of agony. Memories flooded my vision and I went dizzy. Declan grabbing my head and my clawing him like a cat to stop him. Bile rose in my throat.
Crawling out of bed, I opened my bedroom door and crossed the hall, making it in time to dry heave over the basin of the toilet. I rinsed my mouth and brushed my teeth, all the while avoiding my reflection and headache that pounded against my cranium. Putting off the inevitable wasn’t working. I eyed the cabinet and pulled out the painkillers, taking three. I sighed and finally met my new enemy, the mirror. The truth of it all right there before me.
Yellow and purples decorated my forehead, the side of my face, and around my left eye. The evidence of Declan’s attack still there.The last time he hit me, it wasn’t this bad.The door chimed.
“Lily!” Natasha yelled. She was extra cranky because Ari cancelled their weekend plans.
“Who’s there?” I called out, my hand automatically seeking to cover my bruises. My heart pounded hard in my chest. I remained fixed, awaiting her response. After a few moments, she responded.
“No one. You have a delivery.”
Pushing my hair in my face, I walked out of the bathroom and into the living area, where I found Natasha pawing through the basket.
“Dean and DeLuca basket. Good taste,” Natasha said, a smile on her lips. “The note said Dani and Jonas.” She motioned to the note on the table. I took a look at it.
Get better soon. Hugs. Dani and Jonas.
I chewed my lip as my stomach turned over. I lied to them. Looking at the bouquet of Tiger Lilies in the glass vase, I frowned. They even went as far as to send me flowers. I noticed a card and opened it. A letter and pictures. My face fell. Declan.
I couldn’t reach you by phone to tell you but I’m checking into rehab today so you won’t be able to reach me. I do love you Lily, but I need to sort myself out. Please forgive me. I didn’t lie, here are some of the photos, but I know you want me to hold on to the rest.
Love Declan.
My vision clouded as I pulled out the pictures from the envelope. He hadn’t lied after all. He had photos. They weren’t the photos fromPerchance to Dream, but these were from a Sunday dinner at our Franklin street house in Quincy. My mind recalled taking a couple of photos of Declan with my parents, then us switching so he could take a couple of me with them.
Looking at them, I could see they were smiling in the photo with him, but not with their hearts. The pictures with me were brimming with love. They loved and cherished me, and I them. I had wanted to share that love of family with him. My heart ached.Poor Dec.
“Shit. What happened to your face?” Natasha said between bites of a pastry.
I grimaced. My anger at Declan’s attack flared to life again. Not poor Declan. He hurt me. “I fell.” I gestured toward the basket. “You could have asked before eating.”
