"I'll do the best I can," Carlos promised, looking up at Cecil. He knew that if he wasn't convincing, the deception would reflect badly on Cecil as well, and Carlos would no longer be the only one in danger. And here Cecil was, willingly risking his own position of relative safety -- by pretending to have a relationship he'd wanted badly for six months.

Carlos felt another surge of hot shame.

"I'm so sorry, Cecil."

As soon as they left, their respective safeties would depend on Carlos's ability to lie. It was a sickening thought.