It All Started with a Lie

Chapter 26

I know what she is going to say. I bite my lip to keep my emotions at bay, leaning against the counter for support, refusing to face her. "Yeah?" My voice is hoarse and small.

"I know about you and Klaus." And you hate me.

"Richard, I swear I can explain." I finally turn to face her. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I promise," I ramble incoherent bits of the story and it is her turn to cut me off.

"I don't hate you." Her voice is calm but tears well in her eyes.

"Then why are you crying?" I fight my own tears.

A tear slides down her cheek. "Because you really hurt him."

What the fuck did I do to him? He's the one who broke up with me. How is this my fault? "Richard, I'm sorry." I don't know what I did, but I will grovel for her love. I will beg on my knees if I have to. I cannot lose her.

She shakes her head, avoiding my eyes. "I came to get his necklace, and say goodbye."

My blood runs cool and I can no longer fight the tears. "Richard, please!" Don't leave.

I can't think of anything to make her stay. I deserve this. I went behind her back, screwed her brother. The one thing she asked me not to. She should leave.

I am shaking so badly I have to sit down on one of the benches to stop from collapsing. Don't leave. She takes the spot next to me and brushes a strand of hair out of my eyes. "Please," I beg again, "You're my best friend."

"Claudia, you're my soulmate," she wipes away my tears, "but he is my brother. He's sacrificed everything for me, I have to be there for him."

She's right, I know she is. He's done everything to make sure she is happy ever since they were kids. "I can't lose you."

"Hey," she cups my face, "you are not losing me. You will never lose me. I love you too much for you to ever lose me. This is only temporary, just until things blow over."

She reaches for my neck and my hands fly to the necklace, guarding it desperately. "Claudia."

I don't know why I can't part with it, maybe it's because I know she won't leave as long as I have it, or maybe it's because I know that if he really wants it back so badly he will have to come face me himself, and I am dying to see him again, against my better judgment. "Richard, please."

She sighs, like it breaks her heart having to do this. "I have to."

I shake my head, choking on my sobs. I squeeze my eyes shut like a child and her fingers gingerly find mine. No muscle in my body is able to fight her and so she peels my hands away from my collar. Her nails brush against the back of my neck as she struggles to undo the knot. Finally, it falls and my skin is cold in its absence, naked, incomplete.

I am silent, knowing any word I try to speak will not come out as it should. Richard kisses my cheek, tells me she loves me, that this is not forever, and only when the warmth of her body's gone do I open my eyes to watch her retreat.

She pauses in the doorway and my heart flickers with hope that she has changed her mind. She does not turn around. "Do you love him?"

I decide that maybe if I tell her how much I truly do love him, if I prove to her that I did this for more than just sex, that I do care about him, she might stay, she might forgive me and with that I find my words. "I love him with every ounce of my being. I love him so much, my body physically aches now that he is gone. It feels like my chest has been ripped open and a part of me is missing," I sob. "I love him."