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

“I’ll tell you about it over breakfast.”

We headed to the cafeteria, leaving the noisy emergency room behind us. I could smell bacon and pastries coming from the general direction of the cafeteria. My stomach started grumbling.

David laughed. “I can hear you’re hungry.”

“Very,” I replied. “I’ll find us a table while you get our food. I want pancakes and bacon.”

“I think I already knew that, love. That’s all you ate for breakfast when we were together.” His smile lit up his face.

David truly was handsome. I saw so many women swoon at the sight of him and if he started a conversation with them, they all of a sudden reverted back to schoolgirl giggles. I never really understood that. He had so many wonderful qualities… if he only hadn’t betrayed my trust and broken my heart the way he did. Things might be different. I found myself wondering if Joshua Rockwall weren’t in the picture, would I honestly be giving David a second chance? Or was David only wanting a second chance because Josh was in the picture? I shook my head at my wayward thoughts. What I felt with Josh was nothing like I’d ever experienced before. I never had that with David.

“Isabel, I brought you extra syrup, just the way you like it.” David was back with our food, interrupting me from my introspection.

“Thank you!” I exclaimed. “I’m starving.”

“Anything for you, love.” He leaned across the table to kiss me. I turned my head slightly so he would kiss my cheek instead. He lingered there longer than I expected, making me uncomfortable and causing me to flush. He saw how rosy my cheeks turned from his kiss, encouraging him to come in for more.

“David,” I said gently pushing him down, “let’s eat first. There’ll be time for that later.”

He sat down, his smile lighting up his eyes. “Isabel Langley, your reaction to my kissing you, whether it’s on your cheeks or what have you, has always surprised me.”

I shook my head, saying, “Let’s not talk about me. You said you were going to tell me what your insurance is taking care of.” His demeanor quickly turned serious. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. My curiosity was instantly piqued.

“That day you overdosed…” he took a sip of coffee, “after I left your house from paying you a visit, I went straight home only to find Ginger waiting for me in my bedroom.”

I blanched and my reaction made him shift nervously. Was he about to tell me he had one last sexual hurrah with her? As a sort of good-bye?

“You don’t need to know the details but essentially she was trying her best to win me back.” He was fidgeting with the sleeve on his coffee cup and some strange emotion I couldn’t quite place came over me. “I promise, I didn’t do anything, Isabel! You’re the one I’m in love with, you’re my future. In fact, I told her she was dead to me and threw her out of my house,” he said nervously, pausing to look at me. “She didn’t leave right away. I saw her sitting in her car on the phone. Fifteen minutes later these hooded men pull up behind her and set my car on fire.”

I gasped, covering my mouth, “David!” I stopped eating and moved closer to him, taking his hand in both of mine. “Are you all right? This is awful! I hope you called the police.”

“I’m fine, love, and yes, I did call. But like I said, my insurance will take care of it.” He gently kissed my knuckles. “I love how you’re concerned for me. It shows me that you do care about me.”

“Of course I care!” I chided. “I would care even if we didn’t know each other, David. This is not to be taken lightly. Ginger has major issues and she has just shown you what she is capable of doing.” I grabbed his coffee cup from him to take a sip and noticed Ginger in the corner, sitting by herself, watching us, sipping her drink. Had she been there the entire time? Had she been watching how affectionate David had been with me? David turned his head in the direction of my gaze. He muttered something under his breath too low for me to hear. Her glare looked menacing and evil, making us both uncomfortable.

“David?” I let go of his hand, reaching for my purse. “Are you finished here?” I asked.

“Yes, Isabel, I think I am. I’ll walk you to your office.”

We headed to the elevators in silence. He held my hand the length of the walk, not worrying if Ginger saw us or not. I was getting concerned for his safety and mine. I always knew she was trouble but I never fathomed it would be this extreme. He pushed the button for the elevator and started to rub his forehead,. frowning. I could see his anxiety; it was palpable. I placed my hands on his face and turned his head so he could look at me.

“Hey, it’s going to be fine. I don’t think she’ll hurt you physically. Worst case, you may have to move, that’s all.” I hugged him, hoping it would help calm him. He held me closer, kissing my neck.

“You’re right, love, she won’t harm me directly, she’ll just hurt you,” he said. “That’s her way of hurting me.”

I was stunned. I pushed him away, eyeing him, “Me?” I yelled. “You’re saying she’s going to do that shit to me?!” The elevator doors opened, he held them, waiting for me to walk in. I didn’t move, demanding, “Did she say she was going to do something to me?”

“She did,” he sighed, concerned. “She told me to stay away from you or else…”

“Or else what, David?” I was seething with anger.

“I don’t know,”