Title: The Lies We Live
Author: Emersyn Vallis
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 2016
One night.
One lie.
That’s all it took to take away my happily ever after.
I should be angry, but I’m not.
The one lie that was supposed to destroy me, gave me something in return. Actually, it gave me a lot...
I was a typical girl from a small town in her final year of college. I was one step closer to my hopes and dreams. Most importantly, I was about to tell my brother’s friend Mason how I felt.
He was the happily ever after.
See? Typical girl, typical life, typical love story, right?
But one night changed all that.
That one lie silenced me.
They say the truth shall set you free but my truth is a lie we all now live; we all know what could happen if the truth ever got out.
And now we lie for Maggie.
My daughter.
It all started with a lie…
But doesn’t it always?
I guess I’m not so typical anymore...
“Your brothers are coming in! That’s so exciting, Ells.” Margo drops to her mattress.
It is exciting.
Since leaving for school we’ve had nothing more than a few phone calls to catch up with each other. It’s strange since we've always been so close to each other, but they’ve stayed in California for the past couple of years instead of coming home on summer breaks. I know Conner met a girl. However, we don’t exchange names before it’s serious because we don’t like to jinx things. We, meaning Conner and me because Josh rolls his eyes at that rule. He has already told us the name of his girlfriend, who isn’t his girlfriend, and from what I’m gathering, really could care less about him. Her name is Mia… with an e? So it's Mea? Who knows?
I’m not too worried about it though since he has broken the cardinal rule and informed us of her name before even taking the proper steps to dating.
If his relationship ever happens… and that’s a HUGE if, it won’t last too long.
“They are! And so is Austin AND…” I squeal with excitement, my fists balled up in front of my chest.
“Oh my God, you look like you might burst.” Margo covers her mouth to laugh.
I might though because I can't stop what's happening to me.
“MASON!” we both shout at the same time.
Yes, Mason Devereux… The name alone makes my body pulse in all the right places.
“One man should not be allowed that much beauty.” Margo fans herself.
She’s right…but one does. And he's on his way here.
I'm going to be sick.
“Shame he has to bring big brother with him.” She purses her lips together.
I don’t know why but Margo isn’t a fan of Austin’s… he’s not a bad guy. Just full of himself.
“He isn’t so bad. I like Austin.” I grab my phone to check the time.
When I talked to Josh he said he would be in at five. If I know Conner, which I do, I know he is going to expect me to be at the airport by four waiting for them in case they get in early.
“You like Austin?” She eyes me skeptically.
“Tolerate might be the better word.” I look up from my phone at her and grin.
“Better. A weekend with everyone in the city? This is going to be insane!” Margo jumps up, squeezing her pillow. “Can you believe it Ells, we are graduating this year! From college!” She says it like it’s some big breaking news.
I really can’t believe we’re graduating though. This is something we've looked at from a distance for so long that the finalization of it makes me wary. Like it's too good to be true.
“Look at us, moving out of our small town to live in the big city and go to pastry school. They all said it couldn’t happen… that we’d be coming home with our tails between our legs.” I grin at her.
I love making people eat their words. Especially nosey old people who have nothing better to do than sit around and crap on other people's dreams.
“I can’t wait to shove it in their faces when we come home and slap them with our degrees.” Margo’s voice is filled with eager delight at the fact that we’ve proved them wrong.
I have to agree with her there. It'll be nice to see the look on their faces.
I smile at the thought of Mason, the man I haven’t physically seen for months, but emotionally have never been far from. At least on my end.
Mason is my one, the one, he’s the man I’ve compared every other guy to. Which is why I’m still a virgin. Because I know what’s meant to be and we are what’s meant to be.
I've always felt like this is that childhood crush that evolves into so much more without you trying because it’s bigger than anything you can ever imagine. It’s the type of love that the rest of the world molds itself around.
“What are you going to do when you see Mason?” Margo psyches me up.
Clearing my throat, I grab my purse and point to the door. My body a steady hum of energy as I walk out of our room.
“I am going to tell him that I missed him and that I love him and that…” I suddenly forget the rest.
My heart beats rapidly in my chest with each passing step out of the building and closer to him.
“Ok, maybe just start with the missing him part. Try saying hey in a way that doesn't make you look crazy and also, leave the stalker bit out,” she laughs patting my back.
My body jumps from the contact and I release a breathy laugh.
“You need to calm down. You’re a ball of nervous energy and it’s freaking me out.” She stops in front of me to put her hands on my arms. “Oh my God, Ells, you’re shaking with excitement. Calm down or he’s going to get on the plane and race back to school to hide.” She runs her hands up and down my arms.
I can’t help it. I don’t know what’s happening to me but it’s intense. And my jaw is hurting from clenching it.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself and give a firm nod.
“I’m good…let’s go," I squeal.
“You’re fucked…and he's going to think you're insane. Let's go,” she nods, stepping to the side. “Please don’t tell him you stalk him on Facebook,” she whispers.
Facebook…now there is handy tool. Apparently this kid came up with it to help connect the students at his school. Mason sent me an invite to it… said it would be easier to connect on there and of course I accepted!
It’s a new world. I see everything he does, where he goes, what he likes. It’s almost like being with him. Oh my goodness I do sound like a stalker! But I'm not because I like, comment, and message him all the time. Which might be why I’m so freaking out excited nervous right now.
The amount of build up for this moment is taking a toll on my body. Each part tingling and surging with excitement at different moments.
I need to calm down before I pass out.
After making it down the steps to the front lobby without falling from my trembling legs, we open the main door and head outside to grab a cab. My stomach twists into knots again.
We're going to get your brothers. Calm down. I mentally tell myself.
And Mason...but mostly Mason.
My heart speeds up again.
Crap.
It is exciting.
Since leaving for school we’ve had nothing more than a few phone calls to catch up with each other. It’s strange since we've always been so close to each other, but they’ve stayed in California for the past couple of years instead of coming home on summer breaks. I know Conner met a girl. However, we don’t exchange names before it’s serious because we don’t like to jinx things. We, meaning Conner and me because Josh rolls his eyes at that rule. He has already told us the name of his girlfriend, who isn’t his girlfriend, and from what I’m gathering, really could care less about him. Her name is Mia… with an e? So it's Mea? Who knows?
I’m not too worried about it though since he has broken the cardinal rule and informed us of her name before even taking the proper steps to dating.
If his relationship ever happens… and that’s a HUGE if, it won’t last too long.
“They are! And so is Austin AND…” I squeal with excitement, my fists balled up in front of my chest.
“Oh my God, you look like you might burst.” Margo covers her mouth to laugh.
I might though because I can't stop what's happening to me.
“MASON!” we both shout at the same time.
Yes, Mason Devereux… The name alone makes my body pulse in all the right places.
“One man should not be allowed that much beauty.” Margo fans herself.
She’s right…but one does. And he's on his way here.
I'm going to be sick.
“Shame he has to bring big brother with him.” She purses her lips together.
I don’t know why but Margo isn’t a fan of Austin’s… he’s not a bad guy. Just full of himself.
“He isn’t so bad. I like Austin.” I grab my phone to check the time.
When I talked to Josh he said he would be in at five. If I know Conner, which I do, I know he is going to expect me to be at the airport by four waiting for them in case they get in early.
“You like Austin?” She eyes me skeptically.
“Tolerate might be the better word.” I look up from my phone at her and grin.
“Better. A weekend with everyone in the city? This is going to be insane!” Margo jumps up, squeezing her pillow. “Can you believe it Ells, we are graduating this year! From college!” She says it like it’s some big breaking news.
I really can’t believe we’re graduating though. This is something we've looked at from a distance for so long that the finalization of it makes me wary. Like it's too good to be true.
“Look at us, moving out of our small town to live in the big city and go to pastry school. They all said it couldn’t happen… that we’d be coming home with our tails between our legs.” I grin at her.
I love making people eat their words. Especially nosey old people who have nothing better to do than sit around and crap on other people's dreams.
“I can’t wait to shove it in their faces when we come home and slap them with our degrees.” Margo’s voice is filled with eager delight at the fact that we’ve proved them wrong.
I have to agree with her there. It'll be nice to see the look on their faces.
I smile at the thought of Mason, the man I haven’t physically seen for months, but emotionally have never been far from. At least on my end.
Mason is my one, the one, he’s the man I’ve compared every other guy to. Which is why I’m still a virgin. Because I know what’s meant to be and we are what’s meant to be.
I've always felt like this is that childhood crush that evolves into so much more without you trying because it’s bigger than anything you can ever imagine. It’s the type of love that the rest of the world molds itself around.
“What are you going to do when you see Mason?” Margo psyches me up.
Clearing my throat, I grab my purse and point to the door. My body a steady hum of energy as I walk out of our room.
“I am going to tell him that I missed him and that I love him and that…” I suddenly forget the rest.
My heart beats rapidly in my chest with each passing step out of the building and closer to him.
“Ok, maybe just start with the missing him part. Try saying hey in a way that doesn't make you look crazy and also, leave the stalker bit out,” she laughs patting my back.
My body jumps from the contact and I release a breathy laugh.
“You need to calm down. You’re a ball of nervous energy and it’s freaking me out.” She stops in front of me to put her hands on my arms. “Oh my God, Ells, you’re shaking with excitement. Calm down or he’s going to get on the plane and race back to school to hide.” She runs her hands up and down my arms.
I can’t help it. I don’t know what’s happening to me but it’s intense. And my jaw is hurting from clenching it.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself and give a firm nod.
“I’m good…let’s go," I squeal.
“You’re fucked…and he's going to think you're insane. Let's go,” she nods, stepping to the side. “Please don’t tell him you stalk him on Facebook,” she whispers.
Facebook…now there is handy tool. Apparently this kid came up with it to help connect the students at his school. Mason sent me an invite to it… said it would be easier to connect on there and of course I accepted!
It’s a new world. I see everything he does, where he goes, what he likes. It’s almost like being with him. Oh my goodness I do sound like a stalker! But I'm not because I like, comment, and message him all the time. Which might be why I’m so freaking out excited nervous right now.
The amount of build up for this moment is taking a toll on my body. Each part tingling and surging with excitement at different moments.
I need to calm down before I pass out.
After making it down the steps to the front lobby without falling from my trembling legs, we open the main door and head outside to grab a cab. My stomach twists into knots again.
We're going to get your brothers. Calm down. I mentally tell myself.
And Mason...but mostly Mason.
My heart speeds up again.
Crap.
Emersyn Vallis is a first time author with Adjournment being the first book in the Fated Series. Currently residing on the east coast with her husband and three children she is typically mistaken for being quiet and reserved her friends often describe her as a spastic spider monkey and always the first to be there with her quick wit to pull you back up when you’re feeling down. After reading as a hobby for most of her life it wasn’t until she had discovered R. L. Mathewson’s ‘Neighbor from Hell Series’ and Tara Sivec’s ‘Playing with Fire Series’ that she came up with the idea to fuse comedy and suspense together and her passion for writing was born.
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