Fraud

I love my parents, and that’s a hard truth to swallow because it’s my love for them that keeps me trapped. I never want to disappoint anybody, not like I did so often when I was younger.

All the mistakes I made growing up have left me feeling unsure about myself now. I’d thought I was smarter than the pack, so damn sneaky that I could get away with anything.

Except, that wasn’t the truth at all. It was a steady succession of mistakes that led me to the final one - the BIG one - the mistake that sent me crawling straight to Ta

Ever since that day, I’ve been too afraid to trust my instincts, too embarrassed to pick up the pieces and try again.

And maybe that’s why I let my father dictate my life. Sometimes, it’s easier to hand over the reins to someone else rather than set out on your own and risk failure.

Stepping up to the balcony railing, I balance my arms on the cool cement, lean down and track a child that runs across the sand with a kite fluttering behind him.

It barely lifts into the air, the cheap wooden frame bouncing on the ground, but the boy still has a broad smile on his face that is insanely adorable.

In many ways, I feel like that kite, so many false starts that only sent me crashing down. And how fu

My thoughts are back on Gabriel again, even though that’s the last place they need to be.

On our date, I’d hoped to find out exactly what information they want from me, but as usual, Gabriel expertly deflected the topic, and I was left having to send my message along before ru

I never expected to enjoy the time we spent together, never wanted my thoughts to reach back to a night when I’d witnessed something I shouldn’t and lived to regret.

Still, that night was heavy on my mind, my heart breaking for the truth of the man who sat across from me at the table.

For all the shitty things Gabriel does, I understand why he hides so much. He’s more broken than anybody realizes.

He’s beautiful, too. Not in the calculated, dangerous way that Ta

Gabriel is soulful in a way not many people would expect of him, his witty charm and easy humor a disguise that protects the beating heart beneath.

I see it.

I know it well, actually.

And I think that’s part of why he hates me.

How wrong is it that my soul came to life the moment we kissed in the car?

We’ve always had that effect on each other, though. It’s as if our life energy isn’t quite complete on its own, but when combined, a slow pulse becomes a frenetic hum, the surge of it always stealing my breath to leave me mindless.

I’d intended to kiss him, but had convinced myself it wouldn’t mean anything. It was a game and nothing more, a tease I’d intended to use to get him to talk.

But the minute our mouths touched, the entire world dissolved, leaving just him and me in a state where neither of us could resist the attraction.

I felt it in him, too, so I can find some solace in the fact that it wasn’t just me that lost control. And if it hadn’t been for the game I’d already arranged prior to that moment, I’m not sure I can say it wouldn’t have gone further than that kiss.

There’s no denying I wanted him, but then I always have. It’s too bad our history is the reason we can never happen.

It’s been that way since the begi

I also remember Gabriel’s father laughing the entire incident off, even while my father marched over to pick me up from where I’d fallen to brush the dirt from my knees.

Still watching the little boy on the beach, I want to cheer when he finally lifts that kite into the air, the absolute joy in his expression helping warm the cold chill of memory in me.

Wishing I could see that same blaze of happiness coloring Gabriel’s face, I think about how stu

I would continue watching the boy if my phone didn’t ring from inside my suite, dragging me away from the balcony and across the room to a table where I’d dropped my purse when I first walked in.

One glance at the screen and I hit the button to answer when I see Emily is calling.

“How’s the fugitive life going?” she asks, a touch of humor in her words because she knows exactly why I’m ru

“It’s great. I was just standing outside enjoying the beach, and tonight I’ll be partying it up at a club.”

“Must be fucking nice,” she grumbles. “Do me a favor and post a video for me to see. I want to live vicariously through you for a while.”

“I’ve already posted several,” I remind her. “Plus, what do you have to bitch about? You’re living it up with two insanely gorgeous men you get to play with at the same time. If anybody needs to post a video, it’s you.”

Dropping down onto the white couch in the center of the room, I lean back and kick up my feet.

“Actually, that’s more complicated than I like it to be. Damon got arrested a few weeks ago.”

“For what?”

“Fighting,” she groans.

I’m not surprised by that. Both Damon and Ezra are known for it.

“Will he ever grow up? Let me guess: he and Ezra decided to take on an entire football team this time, right? Oh, and I’m sure Shane had something to do with it. That asshole is always causing problems.”

Shane, for as jaw-droppingly gorgeous as he is, has always been trouble. Even more so than the rest of the guys. If chaos erupts, you can bet your ass he started it.

“Ezra wasn’t there,” she answers, her voice soft. “He’s angry about it, actually, but won’t tell me why. And yes, Shane was there. He was arrested, too.”

Now that does surprise me.

“I’m shocked Shane got caught for once.”

She laughs. “Me too.”

The doorbell rings on her end of the line, another groan escaping her lips.

“That must be Ezra, which means I need to go. Have fun tonight, and be sure to send me footage.”

We hang up, and I spend another hour getting ready to go out. I should be excited to be free for a while, to dance and drink and burn off the anxiety that is a constant companion these days.

Unfortunately, I already know the night will just be another disappointment.

Oh, sure, I’ll post videos and other proof of the amazing life I’m living, but if anybody were to peek beneath the surface of the two faces I show the world, they would find that the truth is I’m dying a slow, agonizing death, and that I’ve never been the girl everybody assumes I am.