Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (book club recommendations txt) 📗

leaned over the table and kissed me, “I’m glad to hear it. I bought it on an impulse because of the view. I’m glad you approve.”

“Babe,” I began, “I forgot to mention that we’re having brunch with my parent’s tomorrow morning. So, that means you’re going to have to go to my place and get me a few things.”

“Of course, baby. We can go as soon as we’re done here.”

“I can’t go,” I said flatly. “Not dressed like this. I don’t even have shoes.”

“Baby, just put on the jeans and shoes you came in wearing and wear one of my shirts. I can give you a jacket too.”

“No,” I replied icily. I stopped eating, placing my hands in my lap. Josh stopped chewing, his eyes flashing up to mine. “I will never wear those clothes ever again. And that includes the bra and panties. Do you understand me?”

I could see Josh swallowing his food down, hard, “Um, yes, baby, okay… is everything all right? Did I say something wrong?”

I got up from the table, my mind racing again, my rage beginning to get the better of me. I did not want to lose control again. I needed to calm myself down. I needed to get ahold of my emotions somehow and not turn to Josh for sex every time I felt like this; it wasn’t healthy. I walked over to the fireplace and stood next to it, feeling the warmth, gazing out the large windows and sliding doors. I closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind. I thought of Josh and how gentle he was with me early this morning. I thought of our first morning together on my sofa. I thought of our first-time making love on his sofa just a few minutes ago. My heart rate began to slow and the rage was beginning to dissipate.

Josh was behind me, rubbing my shoulders and arms, “Baby, did I do or say something wrong?”

I took a deep breath, opening my eyes. I turned around and laid my forehead on his chest. “I’m sorry, Josh. You did nothing wrong. I never mentioned that everything I was wearing, Chang gave me. In fact, I had two suitcases full of clothes and shoes he gave me when y’all showed up. I had to pack because I was sold.”

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight against his bare chest. I could hear his heart beating. It calmed me even more and I could feel my body relaxing.

“Well, that explains the odd email I got earlier today.”

“What do you mean? What about the email?” I asked.

“One of the agents that’s still at the estate taking inventory mentioned that your things were still there and wondered if you wanted them.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing, yet. I was going to ask you about it since I couldn’t imagine you taking your suitcase if you were in the middle of getting kidnapped.”

I snickered. “Tell him to donate it. All of it.”

“Will do.” He paused, eyeing me with concern. “Are you okay now?”

“Yes,” I sighed. “Your view is so amazing, it really helped. And just being with you as well.” I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed his perfect lips. “So, can you go get me a few things? I can just lie around here staring out your doors and windows, waiting for you.”

“Uh, baby, I can’t do that. What I mean is I can’t leave you alone or rather I won’t leave you alone.”

I sat down on the sofa closest to the fire and curled up with my feet to the side of me. “Josh, I know you feel like you need to be over protective after what happened but I’m here now and y’all got Chang.” He sat next to me, clasping my feet and placing them on his knees. He began to rub them. I sank deeper into the sofa, resting my head on a pillow, twirling a piece of hair around my finger, admiring my Greek God. This was super relaxing. The music was still playing overhead but it had changed to Frank Sinatra.

“Baby, there’s something you should know,” he said as he raised one of my feet to his lips, kissing my big toe.

“Mm? What’s that?”

“We didn’t get Ginger. Ginger got away before we could get her but we have a pretty good idea where she is, so those agents are there now.”

“Is she far? Wherever you think she’s at… is she far from here?”

“Well, kind of,” he answered, clasping my other foot and rubbing it.

“Then why worry? Chang is in custody, that was her meal ticket, I think, and now that he’s gone she’s just trying to stay hidden, so why would you think she’d come after me?”

“Because she wanted to kill you. Not just because Chang told her to but because of David too. She killed Stevens, for god’s sake!”

“So that explains your FBI mode since we got here—you coming out this morning holding your gun and all the weird security in the hallway. Which, by the way, you still have to tell me how you knew that guy was coming.” I was feeling very soothed and relaxed now with all the foot rubbing and the warm fire. I really didn’t want to leave this spot.

“Yes,” he nodded. “And I’m not leaving you again.”

“Josh, I’m not leaving this apartment with nothing but your shirt, your jacket and barefoot,” I declared. “And I’m not canceling on my parents either. Besides, if I do, they’ll just end up coming here. All of them.”

“I’m not leaving you, Isabel Grace, and I’m not calling another agent to come stay with you either. Especially with you looking so…” he trailed off, gazing at me from head to toe. “Can you call your mother and ask her to get your things?”

“I suppose