Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (books to get back into reading TXT) 📕

Good gracious! Another female developing a relationship with yet another FBI agent. It had to be the water. Although, Ben did deserve to meet someone as smart and gorgeous as Belín. He’d wanted to meet someone for a while now.

My mother brought over this delectable round cake with white whipped frosting and so many cute little colorful flowers on top. I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into that. Belín got up to open another bottle of wine. I waved at her and asked her to bring Ben and me water. Charlie picked up the dirty dishes and replaced them with small dessert plates. I could smell coffee—my mother must have brewed a pot for the dessert. Ben rose from the table to help Belín. I watched them as they interacted. She handed him things to hold and made it a point to touch him every time, whether it was a touch on the hand when she handed him the bottle or she held his arm for support while she was trying to balance herself on her tiptoes, reaching for the coffee cups. I wished I were that good at flirting. She made it look so natural. My mother placed dessert forks, cream and sugar on the table. She sat next to me and kissed me on the cheek.

“Mom, I forgot to mention, David wants to come for brunch tomorrow morning. He patched me up and took care of me. From what the nurse told me, he had other doctors fill in for him at the ER so he could take care of me. I wanted to thank him somehow and he said he’d like to say hi to you and Charles Andrew, so I said okay to brunch.”

“Honey, you want to thank David but you didn’t go thank Josh for what he did for you? The boy was shot trying to keep you safe. Angel, I’m happy to cook for David and thank him for taking good care of you, but we are going to that hospital tomorrow and I am thanking that boy for taking care of my baby as well. I hope you understand.” She was beginning to get upset. I wasn’t about to argue with her.

“Yes, ma’am,” I acquiesced. We hugged and she whispered “I love you” in my ear.

We finished having cake. Everyone was still chatting and talking about their day. They all started to get out of their seats slowly, picking up the dishes. I got up to get my antibiotic from my room while everyone cleaned up. Ben didn’t stay to help but rather followed me to my room.

“Isabel, there are a few things we need to go over,” he said, keeping his voice low so no one else could hear.

“Yes, Ben, I’m sure there is.” I hadn’t meant to sound sarcastic. I was just tired. I suspected I was missing my filter since being on the pain medication.

He lightly snickered, “I overheard you and your mother talking about going to see Josh tomorrow and…”

I cut him off with, “You heard us? How on earth did you hear what we were talking about? I saw you and Belín at dinner; if she were any closer to you she would’ve been in your lap. Plus, you were talking just as much as she was, so how did you manage to hear us?”

“Let’s just say it’s my job and this is what I’m trained to do.”

“Great! Another one that uses his work as an excuse! I’m starting not to like FBI agents, Ben.” I fell backwards onto my bed and exhaled loudly. “I’m sorry, Ben, I don’t mean to be so rude. I didn’t mean what I said. You’re just doing your job. Please excuse my behavior.”

“There’s nothing to excuse, Isabel, I can understand your frustration. Your world has been turned upside down and you have people shooting at you now.”

“Thank you.” I smiled warmly at him. “You were saying?” I sat up to listen; he turned the lights on in my room so he could see me.

“I understand you and your mother want to go visit Josh tomorrow and was thinking that may not be such a good idea if you go. Your mother should be fine to visit but perhaps you could wait a little while before you see him.”

“Well, I wasn’t expecting you to say that. Why shouldn’t I go?” I was puzzled. “Before we left the hospital you said we could go see him, what’s changed? Is there something the matter?”

“No, nothing is really wrong. It’s just a matter of Josh recovering and healing. He’s on the mend and we need him to get on his feet sooner rather than later,” he said. “We think by you seeing him, it might cause him to come unglued again.” He was rubbing his five o’clock shadow, looking pensive.

“I thought he was supposed to do computer work or rather internet work? And why would seeing me cause him to come unglued?” I asked with bitterness in my voice.

“We need him to be focused and recover quickly without any distractions so he is able to sit in front of a computer and work on this particular case. As I said before, Josh has a degree in computer science and is very knowledgeable with all things technology, computers and phones,” he said, giving me a fleeting glance.

“And the unglued part?” I asked.

“Um, Yes, well, you’ve gotten under his skin, it seems like, and he’s asking to see you so he can explain things.”

“I see, and, so y’all are afraid I will call him a liar, tell him I don’t believe him or say something to upset him and he’d not be able to do his job after that.” I felt a pang of hurt. “Did I get it right, Ben?” I peeked up at him.

“More or less. I’m sorry, Isabel.” His face was impassive.