Even If It Hurts (Coastal Elite #1)

by Sam Mariano

But when people do shit that crazy and you have to try to respond to it, more often than not, you come off looking like the crazy one.

“Lying is easy, you just have to do it with confidence.” “No, thanks. I don’t need to be a better liar. It’s not a skill I find particularly useful.” “Nah,” he says, like he’s not surprised. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you? All the way, through and through.” I shrug. “I guess. I try to be a good person. When you lie, your word means less and less. I don’t see the advantage of making it difficult for people to trust you.” “Maybe people shouldn’t trust me,” he says casually. I shrug. “Maybe. In that case, go ahead and lie all you want, just don’t be surprised by the consequences.” “The consequences today are that we’re going to have delicious drinks with our lunch.” “Those are the immediate consequences, yes. The longer-term consequences are that I will always be a little skeptical of anything you say because there’s literally no way to tell if you’re lying or telling the truth. Maybe you don’t care if I believe you, but it’s true either way. If there ever comes a day when you need me to believe you and I don’t, it’s no one’s fault but yours.”

an illusion can be ruined by reality,

She gasps like I just struck her. I smile because I did, with the ugliest weapon I have at my disposal—the truth.