Page 42 of Secrets (The Sins Trilogy 2)
She nods, returning to the chair. “Why do you think we watched all those bad porn flicks? We were trying to learn what it was to love and all that. Pure love. Physical love. Sisterly love. Brotherly love. Obsessive love. At some point, I started dreaming I was in pure sisterly love with Tatiana, who wanted me obsessively. It was creepy, because as much as I love Tatiana, she isn’t really my type.” Yuna looks slightly horrified, but she’s laughing.
I giggle too. It’s hilarious we tried to learn about love through porn, but we were teenagers who probably didn’t know any better. She’s doing her best to give me some details, and I appreciate that, even though part of me is sad I don’t remember any of it. If I’d recalled even half the things she’s telling me, I would’ve looked her up for sure.
Something that’s been niggling in the back of my mind suddenly pops clear. What she told me feels genuine, but the timeline doesn’t add up. The accident that killed my parents and put me in a coma happened before I started college. How could Yuna and I have met? Air catches in my throat, and I go still, wondering if she’s another of those “friends” from before. But Tony wouldn’t have brought her here if he thought she was bad news.
“Did we live in the same neighborhood or something?” I try to make the question casual.
“We were roommates since our first year. We were fifteen when we moved in together.”
“Fifteen!”
“Told you we were good.”
“But fifteen? Sam told me I graduated from high school when I was eighteen. He even showed me the yearbook.”
She slowly shakes her head. “He’s lying.”
“Obviously,” I say bitterly as the depth of Sam’s betrayal becomes clearer. Rage swells, growing like a tidal wave about to engulf me. I’m not a violent person, but if Sam were here…
Tony squeezes my hand. “Hey, relax. It’s not your fault you believed him.”
I look at him, the sympathy in his dark green gaze. He’s upset because I am. And he’s lending me his strength and understanding. “I know. I just feel gullible and stupid.”
Yuna says, “It’s his fault for lying, not yours for trusting the wrong person.”
“You’re right.” Sam got away with lies and screwing with my mind because I had nobody I could depend on. He made sure I was isolated—which is why he made me travel so much. And why he was determined to put me on a one-way flight to Tokyo when he found about me and Tony.
I look at both Tony and Yuna. And I know they care too deeply to let Sam or anybody else take advantage of me. Gratitude flows through me, dulling the edge of my rage. “I’m lucky to have you two on my side.”
“I should’ve looked you up sooner.” Yuna has transformed, and her voice is hard. “I’m not letting him get away with this.” It’s jarring to see such a murderous look on her small, delicate face…but if the situation were reversed, I’d feel the same.
How can I remember almost nothing about this woman but still care about her so deeply? Is it because all the memories I can’t access are still buried somewhere in my mind? My instinct is to rely on them and let them guide me. If I’d listened to it more, I wouldn’t have excused so much of Sam’s fishy behavior.
Mr. Kim returns with our sandwiches and a perfectly chilled Dom. Tony and I bring the flutes from the kitchen. At Yuna’s and my urging, he does the honor of uncorking and pouring champagne for all four of us.
“To my precious friend,” Yuna says, lifting her glass. “May we never be apart again.”
“And to my awesome friend, who never gave up on me,” I say, more determined than ever to trust my instincts and never let myself be isolated again.
“To both of you, and your beautiful friendship,” Tony says.
Mr. Kim looks at his flute for a second, then clears his throat. “To your happiness,” he says with a small, shy smile.
We clink glasses and drink. The Dom is smooth and delicious, the bubbles full of oak and berry undertones. We eat our sandwiches leisurely while talking. Well. The talk is mainly Yuna and me. Mr. Kim is silent. Tony doesn’t say much either, but squeezes my hand from time to time to let me know he’s here for me. Yuna reveals all kinds of things about herself, which is great, since I’m dying to learn more about her.
I already knew her family was rich, but Tony didn’t tell me they’re insanely powerful in Korea. Or have the most absurdly archaic ideas about Yuna’s future. Her parents had high hopes for her—to go to a good college and marry a suitably wealthy heir to a huge conglomerate.
“To cement a merger? Really?” I gape at her.
“Blood is thicker than contracts.”
Blood?“Were you supposed to make a lot of little merger heirs, too?”
“Of course.”
She tells me more. Her love for music wasn’t in any of their plans. Whatever she accomplished was through her own sheer will and determination.
She waves a hand. “Oh, please. Stop looking at me like that.”
