Love is Trustful

"May I borrow your phone?"

Edward hesitates for a minute, but ultimately grabs his phone, handing it to me. "Here."

"Thank you."

I dial his number but hesitate. The last thing I want is to involve him in my mess...

{Hello? Who—}

"Hey."

{Lili? Why are you calling? Is something the matter?}

The concern in his voice makes me involuntarily smile.

"Why would you assume that?"

{You've never called me before, in case you forgot.}

"Nothing's wrong. I just need to ask you for something."

{Over the phone?}

"No. In person." I say.

{Oh.}

The relief in his voice is amusing.

"So where can we meet? I don't think I should come to your house today."

I hope he won't insist on me going.

{Don't worry, I'll text you the address.}

"Fine."

I hang up.

Edward gives me a look, then glances at his phone in my hand.

"I'll give it back in a minute." My smile is reassuring, but Edward doesn't seem to buy it.

"Don't be so impatient Eddie. I promise, I'm not gonna look through your messages with your other wife." My smile grows significantly. 

My words make him turn paler and he quickly avoids my gaze.

I look at the address Reeve's sent in surprise. All the same, I delete the text, hand Edward his phone back, and proceed to leave.

♦

"Anyone home?"

I knock once on the door of the two-story mansion, then proceed inside.

Once I shut the door behind me, someone appears from upstairs.

"You may come in." The girl says sarcastically giving me an annoyed look.

"Come on Nancy. I thought we were friends?" I raise a conspicuous brow.

Nancy takes short but confident strides toward me.

"I wouldn't use that term." Her hand rests on my shoulder.

"Then what term would you use?"

Her fingers slowly travel up my collarbone, her seductive gaze scanning my body.

"Friends... With benefits." Her hand tightly wraps around my neck, as her tongue runs greedily up and down my throat, her other hand softly caressing my inner thighs.

"We're lucky my parents are never home, don't you think?" She coos in my ear.

"I didn't come here for that." I slowly free myself from her.

"Then why?" She takes a few steps back, hands folding.

"Wait... Please don't tell me you're here to meet him."

"I am. How'd you know?"

She rolls her eyes.

"He called. He's like the embodiment of decency."

"Sounds like him." I smile.

Nancy raises a brow, gazing suspiciously at me.

"Do you... Like him?"

Thankfully, the doorbell rings at that moment.

Nancy laughs.

"See? Decency. I told you."

I open the door and come face to face with Reeve. He looks pleasantly surprised to see me.

"Come in." I usher him inside.

"You're here already. Great." He beams.

"Isn't it?" Nancy remarks walking toward us.

"I, uh, brought muffins," Reeve says, and I notice the subtle reddening of his ears.

So you know each other?" Reeve glances curiously at me.

"You could say that," I reply.

"Oh, we do more than just know each other." She smirks.

I give her a warning look and she backs away into another room.

"Okay okay, I'm going."

"Come, sit with me," I say walking over to the nearby couch.

"Do I even wanna know how you two know each other?" Reeve asks as he takes a seat beside me.

"Well, as you might know, Nancy is kind of a tech genius. She helps me spy on people and I give her certain... Favors."

Reeve's expression turns severe.

"Like sleeping with her?"

"Does it even matter?" I say, giving him an indirect answer to his question.

His hands ruffle his hair anxiously.

"Wasn't there any other way?" His eyes never meet mine as he asks.

"There was, but she's clearly not in need of money." My eyes scan the huge mansion.

A minute of silence later, he finally looks at me.

"Why did you want to see me?"

"Do you think differently of me now?" I find myself asking.

His voice turns more hostile than I'm used to.

"Why should you care what I think of you?"

"Reeve—"

"Just tell me what you want Lilith." I sense the impatience in his tone.

I sigh, knowing I can't persuade him anymore.

"I need you to set up Nancy's little spy cams and microphones in your house."

He gives me a perplexed look.

"What...?"

"All areas except the bathrooms of course." I calmly elaborate.

"Oh, and leave out your room as well."

"Why me? You could've easily done it. You two seem to be getting quite cozy." He grins painfully.

"Reeve, please. You're the only person in my life I can really count on."

"Fine. I'll do it." He says then instantly stands.

I grab a hold of his arm. "Reeve—"

"No Lili." He gently shakes my hand off.

"You can't tell me you trust me when you hide such things from me. I can tell a lot's going on in your life right now, but you should know; it's either you trust me completely, or not at all."

"But don't worry. I promise not to hold it against you if you don't." He adds and heads for the kitchen.

I stand and firmly grab his arm.

"Wait, please." With a deep sigh, I look up at him.

"I'll tell you, but if you go to the police, I will poison your entire family."

"Fair enough." He says.

We walk back to the couch and sit.

"Muffin?" Reeve offers.

I sigh in sweet relief as I bite down on one of the muffins.

"You should really consider opening your own restaurant."

His gaze on me is unwavering.

"As long as you let me name it after you."

"Fair enough."

A few delicious muffins later, I turn my attention to Reeve. The subtle smile on his face disappears upon noticing my severe expression.

He stays silent, waiting for me to speak.

"Reeve, you know I don't sugarcoat most of the things I say. Especially if I'm being honest."

Reeve nods.

"Most of the time, yes."

"My younger sister Isabelle's death wasn't necessarily because of her illness," I say.

"Vivian killed her."

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