Beautiful Lies Read Online Free Page A

passion that only Taylor ignites inside my soul.
     
    “Paige...”
    “I’m here,” I whisper.
    “Paige.”
    “Yes, Taylor?”
    I hear a groan and then I feel movement. My eyes snap open and reality hits me like a ton of bricks . I sit up, clutching on to the sheets on my bed and stare at him. He is sat on the edge of the bed staring at me. His eyes are sad. I did that.
    “Sorry to disappoint,” he says softly.
    “I’m sorry,” I whisper but he’s already walking away. He’s leaving the room.
    “Rick, I’m sorry,” I mutter to his back.
    I lie back down and stare at the ceiling in frustration. I look over at the clock. 2:33 am. I was dreaming...again. The same heartbreaking feeling fills my stomach and I feel sick. It was just a dream. Taylor isn’t real.
    I slide my feet over the side of the bed. I go in search of Rick. When I find him he’s sat on the loveseat in the living room. It’s dark and I can just about make out his face. I stroll, haltingly toward the seat in front of him. I sit down and close my eyes. Five silent minutes pass. I listen to the wind blowing outside of the window and the creaks of our home in the silence of the night. Even the sound of my own beating heart fills my ears as we sit silently. I slowly open my eyes and just stare at him. I don’t know what to say, I never do.
    “I’m sorry-”
    “Don’t,” it’s a quiet but stern reply. “I can’t listen to you telling me that it’s not your fault again. I’m tired of it, Paige.”
    “But it’s the truth. I didn’t ask for this anymore than you did,” I whisper.
    “It’s been a year, Paige. A whole year and you’re fantasizing about some other man-”
    “They’re not fantasies, Rick, they are dreams.”
    “What’s the difference?”
    “The difference is I didn’t choose this. Just like you, I didn’t choose it. You think that I enjoy watching you suffer like this?”
    “No, but I think that you love him.” My body goes cold and I feel sick. I feel tingles in my hands and feet and I want to run out of the room. “Do you?” He continues.
    “Why are you doing this?”
    “Answer the question, Paige.”
    “Rick, I love you. Please don’t do this...”
    “Do you love him? Yes or no?”
    “Rick, I can’t. This isn’t fair and you know it. This isn’t going to solve anything-”
    “Answer the question!”
    “Yes!” I scream before I even realize what I am saying.
    He gets up.
    “Rick, wait, please,” I can feel the warm tears racing down my cheeks as I follow behind him.
    “I’m sleeping in here tonight,” he says as he enters the doorway of the spare bedroom.
    “Rick, I’m sorry, I...” I can’t find the right words.
    “We’ll talk in the morning. I can’t do this now, please,” his eyes are pleading with me and I can see his heart breaking before my very eyes. I nod before he gently closes the door.
    “I’m sorry,” I whisper. I turn my body and lean my back against the wall. I slowly slide down until I hit the floor. I bring my knees up to my chest, creating my own cocoon of pain, and then I cry. I know that Rick can hear me. I know that he won’t come out but I don’t care. I cry because I do love Taylor. I cry because he’s not real. I cry because Rick is real. I cry because he is hurting. I cry because I caused his pain. I cry because I have no idea how to fix it. I cry because my tears are all the words that my heart cannot say.
     

CHAPTER TWO
    PAIGE’S STORY
     
     
    I feel his eyes on me but I don’t move. I keep my eyes closed and stay perfectly still. I hear the sound of a heavy breath leaving his mouth as he steps closer to me. The bed underneath me rises as he takes a seat. I feel the warmth of his hand stroking my face and I feel safe. He moves the hair behind my ear and his hand lingers on my cheek. Still, I pretend to sleep. I don’t know what to say, so I say nothing. He sits staring at me. I can’t see him but I can feel him. Sadness fills my heart, knowing that