Page 40 of The Masks We Burn

“Then what is it?” Lily’s voice takes on a soft note and I know she’s about to go all therapist on me. Might as well rip off the Band-Aid and try a page out of Will’s book.

“I may have let someone munch on my carpet. Give me some Australian kisses. Lick the kitty.”

Lily and Mina laugh at the same time, like this is anything but news before looking at me with curious expressions. I roll my eyes and blow a stray hair away from my face, sagging into the cushion. “This one was not a good idea.”

Lily sobers immediately. “Was it him?”

I groan, hating that she even remembers he that shall not be named. “Fuck no. But the one who did isn’t much better as far as choices go.”

She studies me for a moment, her head tilting to the side. I shift under her possible scrutiny, dipping my foot in the bubbling basin. It’s the perfect temperature, and under normal circumstances would relax every muscle in my body. But right now, it does little to combat the dozen stress knots embedded in every tendon.

Her eyes widen and I know she’s got it. “Amora Joy Orlov. You didn’t.”

Mina perks up, leaning over to examine the exchange. “Who is it?”

Lily’s mouth pops open, her big brown eyes twinkling with amusement rather than judgment. I ignore the lightness in my chest at the notion knowing a scolding is somewhere at the back of her mind. “It was Will.”

Mina’s eyes turn into saucers, a full-blown smile taking over her bright face. “Ay dios mio. About time.”

“What?” I ask, a warmth creeping across my cheeks.

Lily leans back, pressing the massage button on her chair. “We all knew it was inevitable. Especially with him moving here. It was only a matter of time.”

I shake my head, irritation bubbling in my gut. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Lily must notice my change in demeanor and sits up, a hand reaching out for mine. “Hey, hey. It’s not like it was a discussion behind your back or anything. It’s just both of you are like two peas in a pod, and the tension is obvious, Amora. Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying.”

“I’m not. I just,” I pause, scrunching my nose up as I look for the words, “I fucked up.”

Mina and Lily exchange a quick glance, and I start to regret ever saying anything.

Clearing my throat, I rip the damn Band-Aid off. “Long story short, Will and I are faking an engagement so my mom doesn’t cut me off, and so he can attend a private club my dad owns. It’s been fine up until last night when we were planning your collab party. Thanks for that, by the way. Anyway, one thing led to the other, and he ended up on his knees.”

I fall back into my chair, a huff pushing out of my mouth as I decide to expend all my energy ignoring the jitters in my belly and focus on my nail tech starting on my toes. With this position, I don’t necessarily see the their expressions, but I feel Lily studying my face. It itches.

“Do you like him? Is that what you’re worried about?”

“Hell no,” I snap, keeping my gaze on my feet. “It’s a relationship of convenience. It’s just until I land a job and don’t have to worry about moving back home.” I leave out the part where I’ll also have to marry someone to keep my head above water. The whole thing is still so convoluted and backward, I try not to waste any brain cells picking apart how fucked it all is.

“So last night?” Mina chimes in.

“Was a thread being pulled.” Lily comments, forcing me to look at her. “You think it was a one-time thing. That he’ll be like all the others. But you’ve just unraveled something you won’t be able to stop.”

My eyebrows furrow, a different type of worry passing over me. It gnaws at the tender edges that were frayed only a couple of years ago by he that shall not be named.

No.

Out of all the things that can go wrong between William and I, emotions being involved has never been a concern. We are so similar and so different, there could never be anything more than the amazing sexual possibilities. This is dangerous because when we end thisrelationship, it’s either going to be a cordial, non-awkward exchange. Or it will be a total nuclear bomb type thing where we won’t be able to hang out altogether anymore. Not that we did a lot of that anyway, but still, the idea wouldn’t even be plausible if this all goes south.

Lily regards me. “Amora. I know you think you both have the same ‘one-night stand’ mentality, but William is a cinnamon roll. I think he stays away from women not because he isn’t capable of loving them, but out offearof loving them.”

Mina nods, handing her nail tech the red polish. “Yes. I’ve gotten to know him quite a bit the past couple of years, and I agree. I think both of you need to be careful with how you approach this. He claims to be just having a good time, but really, I think he’s looking for something. And when he finds it? It’ll be hell or high water before he lets it go,mejia.”

I sigh, remembering why I didn’t want to say anything in the first place. I appreciate them looking out, but I learned my lesson in the hardest possible way. No way in hell I’m trying to make that mistake again.

Lily bobs her head up and down, her long brown curls twirling as she shifts in her seat to face me. “I just don’t want—”

“For me to get hurt. Yeah, I got it. I won’t fall for that shit ever again,” I say, batting Lily away as much as I am the idea.

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