Romans & histoires Stop Lying To Me

No sign of the mess she carried inside. For a second, I didn’t know what to say. Me—the guy who always has a line ready, always has something cocky to throw. But all those words felt hollow now. So I dropped them. And I told her the truth. “I’m gonna stop soon,” I said. Her brow furrowed. “Stop what?”

"And I realized I've been taking you for granted. Assuming you'd always be there, always be fine." "I am fine." "You're not." He met my eyes. "And I need you to stop pretending you are." The words hung between us. I wanted to argue, to maintain the lie I'd been living. But I was so tired of lying. "I don't know how to stop," I admitted quietly. "Then let me help you." "How?" "However you need." He reached out slowly, giving me time to pull away. When I didn't, his hand covered mine. "Just... let me try."

"Why should I believe any of you?" "Because," I speak up. "We have nothing to gain by lying, and everything to lose. Please," I press my hands together. "Let us show you." "Why?" "Because," I step forward. "We're not working with your father, we're working to stop him."

“It won’t.” “You don’t know that.” “No,” he admits. “But I know that we won’t let him decide that for us.” I look at him, searching his face for doubt. For hesitation. But there weren’t any. Just determination. “How?” I ask. “How do we stop this?” “He takes a moment thinking it through properly this time. “We stay honest with everyone. No defensiveness, no hiding. If people ask, we tell them the truth. Exactly how things between us happened.”

Finally I manage to get myself together "Sorry I...don't know what that was" I hiccup "but all I can ask for is some grace. I don't want to put a label on us, I just want us to be open and honest with each other. I don't think I could handle another lie, so please if you lose interest or find your mate...just tell me. I can't promise you anything and I quite literally have not shit to offer you, so just bear with me, and please if you stop wanting me, just tell me." I say, still hiccuping like the big lady child I am. But whatever, all my cards were on the table.

Chloe's voice pulls me out of my train of thoughts, her frustration evident. I know she heard it all. I know she's probably wondering if I've turned to a goddamn simp. Maybe I have. I whirl to face her. “We need to stop,” I blurt out before I can talk myself out of it. Her brows rose, eyes darting on me. “Stop what?” I don't stutter, mainly because my mind's made up. “This,” I say, my eyes fixed on her, not even blinking. “This lie, this acting. We never should've started it,”

“Look at me and tell me you’re not doing this on purpose.” I held her gaze. "I'm not doing this on purpose." I lied through my fucking teeth. She knew very well that I was lying and that yes, I was stalling just like she suspected but I wasn't going to tell her that she was right. "You are lying." She told me. I forced my voice steady. “I am not." "You are." "You’re assuming that I am. Assumptions are dangerous." I told her evenly. “Am I?” she demanded. “Because from where I’m standing, you keep disappearing, keep delaying, keep inventing ‘emergencies’ every damn time we’re about to finalize this.”

“So what do you want me to do? Run away with you? Blow up my entire life?” “I want you to stop lying to yourself.” I stopped a foot away. “Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me you don’t think about me when he touches you. Tell me to stop wanting you and I fucking will.” Ciara’s breath hitched. She looked away. “I can’t.” “Can’t what?” “Can’t say it.” Her voice dropped. “Because it would be a lie. And I’m tired of lying.” I closed the last bit of distance. My hand came up to her face.

" If you feel things are too much to handle, I want you to have an out—a word—that you can say to me, and I will stop immediately.." I tilted my head. I guess that made sense since I had no idea what I was about to get myself into. Even if the thought of Rashid having complete control over me turned me on to no end, it made me feel good that he wanted me to be able to tell him to stop. "Why can't I say 'stop'?" "Sometimes when people say stop, they don't actually mean it." Oh. People really did that sort of thing? I nodded anyway, disregarding my confusion. "What kind of word?"

“I do. But that’s not enough right now. I can’t just sit here and be torn apart with lies—and let them get away with it!” Leon moved closer. His voice dropped. “You said something before. You said people always think you’re lying. That this has happened before. What did you mean by that?” I froze. He was watching me carefully now, like he knew I’d given something away without meaning to. “I didn’t mean it like that,” I replied quickly. “I’m tired. I’m not thinking clearly.” “No. You almost said something else. You stopped yourself.” “I don’t want to talk about it.”