I still felt hurt.
I still hated that he had waited so long.
But I could finally see the difference between a lie meant to manipulate someone and a lie someone tells because they are ashamed, then becomes trapped inside.
Both can hurt.
They are not exactly the same.
“Is there anything else?” I asked.
Reed understood immediately.
“No.”
“Anything at all?”
“No secret marriage?”
“No.”
“Children?”
“No.”
“Different name?”
He laughed.
“No.”
“Federal fugitive?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
I looked at him.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Then his expression changed again.
“There are things I haven’t told you because I don’t like talking about them. But nothing I’ve replaced with a fake story. The aunt thing is the only lie.”
I believed him.
Not because we were getting married.
Because I knew what Reed looked like when he was trying to avoid something.
