Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 94
Paul drove her to the airport, made her promise that she would text him as soon as she arrived, wished her a safe journey, and kissed her goodbye.
Bella squirmed under Paul's concerned gaze and boarded the plane with a heavy heart burdened with guilt.
She said a silent prayer so that Paul didn't call Renee while she was in flight. The thought of being caught in her lie was not only deeply embarrassing, but it was also a painful reminder of how much Paul didn't deserve such deceit from her.
She didn't want to be the kind of a person who lied and cheated with impunity to selfishly gain favors from unsuspecting men. But when she was finally confronted with the prospect crossing the Rubicon, her mind was paralyzed with fear.
She felt utterly unprepared, and worse still, unwilling to go through with it.
In her panic, she sought out the only plausible ruse her mind could concoct.
She hated that she had lied to Paul, and made her mother an accessory in the process.
She hated that she had allowed herself to selfishly keep Paul in her life when the decent thing would have been to cut him loose years ago.
She hated herself for stringing along a boy as sweet natured as Paul who deserved so much better than an ungrateful and self centered girl like her.
She vowed to make the best use of the next couple of days to get her head screwed straight and reach a sound decision on what she would do with regard to Paul.
Come Monday, she would either surrender herself - mind, body and soul - to Paul without any reservation. Or she would break up with him, however much it hurt him. No matter which path she took, she refused to lie to Paul ever again, by omission or otherwise.
Thank you Lulabelle98, HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.