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

he needs to get to Dad’s jet by five in the morning, so we’re planning on leaving when he leaves so we can get to the hospital before the doctors start their rounds.”

“All right, sweetheart. Should I join you so I can keep Ben company while you pretend to get a mammogram?”

Then it hit me. She should absolutely come and keep his mind preoccupied.

“That’s a great idea, Mom! Come with us so you can talk his ear off and get coffee. You can keep him preoccupied so his mind doesn’t start to wander. You’re fantastic at getting people to open up to you.”

She snickered, “Oh, my, honey… I don’t know if I’m any good at that. Remember, Ben also has a background in medicine. I’m not confident he can be manipulated in that way.”

I filled my cheeks up with air and blew out, “Well, he’s a man, regardless of his background. I’m pretty confident he’s going to question us about if we’re really getting a mammo. Besides, if he did we could just say it’s none of his business.”

She pursed her lips. “You got me. Okay, I’ll try.” She gave me a kiss on the cheek and added, “I’ll be ready to go by four fifteen tomorrow morning. I can put your brother in an Uber and then we can all leave.”

“Great! Thanks, Mom.”

I left for my room. The television was off and I could see Charlie getting the sofa ready for bed. Ben was nowhere in sight. Maybe he was walking around the house securing things or checking in with the other team. I didn’t put too much thought into it. I needed to get ready for bed. I looked at the clock. It’s been roughly about forty minutes since I last saw Ben. Hm, I wonder if he’s in the kitchen getting more to eat? Belín walked in, getting ready for bed as well.

“Belín, where did Ben run off to? Is he getting more food?”

“No,” she began, “he’s waiting for me in the basement. He does his check around your house and then we usually meet in your basement so we can have a few moments alone together.” She said it so nonchalantly.

“Wait. What?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Y’all do what?” I was staring at her stupefied. “How long has this been going on? Does my mother or Charlie know? Can anyone hear you two down there?”

“Well, if they can they haven’t said anything.” She looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “I know we just met but it just happened one night. He was walking around your house securing everything, I was already in the basement doing laundry, he heard noises coming from the basement so he came to investigate, and we started talking. No one ever knew we were both there,” she said. “I hope that’s okay. He never drinks, I’m the only one drinking wine and we never stay longer than thirty minutes.”

I was smiling like a fool at this point. “Of course that’s okay!” I exclaimed. “I’m glad you and he are able to find alone time. I would’ve never suspected.”

“That is our intention, you know—for no one to suspect. Yet,” she declared, “Ben said the agency already has a problem with how Josh is behaving… but he never alluded to the fact that it’s over you… and so, if anyone knew about him and me, he would most certainly be taken off this case.”

“Well, at least one of us is happy in a relationship,” I said.

“It’s not much of a relationship or anything, I don’t think,” she replied. “We both know I’m going back to Spain after I’m finished in Dallas.” She paused, “Also, how can I possibly have a relationship with anyone? I’m always chasing the next story so that means I’m never at home. I can’t even have fish as pets; they will die,” she said with chagrin in her voice. “If I have any kind of relationship with a man it will just be sexual and I don’t want that.”

“Belín, just be in the moment for now. Ben is a good guy. Whenever it’s time to go home, worry about it then, not now.” I took her hands and held them as I told her, “Go be with him.” She kissed my cheek and left to meet Ben.

I brushed my teeth with my good arm and got into bed. Four in the morning could not come soon enough for me. I was antsy with anticipation. All I could think about was Josh and how awful I had behaved with him. Belín said he was the epitome of a man in love but that didn’t mean he’d forgive me or even want to see me. There was a time I was in love with David but I knew all he brought with him was pain and heartache, so I did my best to avoid him. Would it be that way for Josh? All I had to do was listen to him with an open mind. I could’ve gone, at the very least, to see him after his surgery, to see if he was fine and thank him for taking care of me. He must hate me on some level, or think I’m the worst kind of ungrateful person. I had to try. I left the bathroom light on for Belín. It was late, bed time, I told myself.

I couldn’t sleep. I just lay in bed looking at the clock and at times my drapes where the streetlights would peek through. It was two in the morning and Belín was still with Ben. I sighed deeply, wishing I could leave now and go to Josh. Belín and Ben were otherwise busy. I could sneak out and be back before Charlie had to leave. But if I got caught I could potentially hurt Josh. Better not…I needed to stop thinking