Perfect Illusion by Claudia Tan

Author:Claudia Tan [Tan, Claudia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wattpad Books

Chapter Eighteen

My mind is telling me that this is such a bad idea, but screw rationality.

“Where are we going?” Nate laughs as he almost stumbles and falls down the last flight of stairs.

Toward the end of the hall, an emergency exit leads out to the rooftop. I push the handle of the door down and kick the brick that’s been wedged in the opening of the doorway away, placing it against the door to keep it open. The cool late-fall breeze attacks my face and I pull my coat tighter, flipping up the collar to shield my cheeks from the freezing wind.

The rooftop is barren, with the exception of a few potted plants sitting on one of the corners and one sad wooden stool that looks like it would crumble into dust if someone were to sit on it. Cigarette butts litter the ground by the edge of the rooftop, and I push some away with my heel as I lean against the railing, admiring the sprawling city view from above.

“We’re not actually supposed to be up here, but nobody really cares,” I tell him, letting loose a cooling breath. “It’s my favorite place here. Before I had to move out.”

“It’s nice.” Nate stands beside me, arms folded over the railing. His attention is not on the view in front of us, but rather on me. “How was your engagement party? It was all I could read about on the news for a couple of days.”

“It was all right. I had fun.”

“Sounds like you wanted to have fun but you didn’t.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I admit. “It kind of sucked ass.”

“I’m sure Daniel was there to make you feel better?”

He was the one who soured the entire party.

“Yeah,” I mumble. “Of course.”

“It’s interesting to meet someone who’s engaged so young,” Nate says, rubbing his hands together for warmth. He looks down at them, his lips quivering. “You must really love him.”

“I guess. I . . .” I wish I could tell him that it’s all an elaborate ruse that will mutually benefit our parents’ companies, but the words won’t come. My throat feels tight, as if Daniel has his hands clamped around it to prevent me from telling the truth.

If only I could end my own misery of carrying all these lies around with me for months now. Frustration pinches at my skin, a feeling that becomes more present and poignant every time I’m with Nate.

I let out a long sigh and rub my temples with my fingers. “Look, I’m sorry, but I’d rather not talk about this. Things with Daniel are—”

“Hey, hey.” Nate leans over, head dipping toward me. He presses his hands over mine, soothes the volatile emotions running through my body. Sadness softens his voice as he whispers, “It’s okay. I’m here for you. You know that right, Alex?”

“I know.”

We’re so close—faces mere inches apart—and my heart takes off at a gallop. His hands slide from my forearms to my wrists and all the way down to the back of my hands where they meet in a slow and soft sweep of skin against skin.

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