Page 43 of The Lies Always Told

“You two have always been my favorite girls, Cara,” Manny says, completely infatuated with Cara. I’m assuming he’s referring to her and Allie. He’s had a crush on her all his life, and it’s always good to see how lost in her he can get, even if it’s just for fun.

“Fancy seeing you here,” Cara says as she turns around to see me.

“Only once in a lifetime, your sister getsengaged, Carita,” I reply, kissing her cheek and trying to ignore Manny’s eyes on me. Whatever that’s about. He’s been overly broody today, almost guarded, and I have no idea why. I’ve asked him twice, but he says I’m imagining things, so I try to brush it off as a reflection of myself. Maybe I’m nervous about the whole Nellie situation, and I’m looking too much into things.

“Don’t call her that,” Manny snaps, his voice sharp. What the fuck? Carita is the nickname we’ve always used for Cara. Yeah, sure, Manny uses it more, but who does he think he is now?

“She’s our Carita. Of course, I can call her that.” I wink at Manny and pull Cara closer, hugging her tight, but she tenses under my hold.Interesting.

Manny steps forward, his jaw clenched. “She’s not, and I said not to call her that.” Oh, shit. I know this tone. This is jealousy, raw, deep in your bones jealousy, more thanI have a crush on my sister’s best friendjealousy. I look between both of them, and then it clicks.They’re sleeping together.Manny shakes his head when he sees it in my eyes and tries to say something, but I stop him, raising my hand.

“I’ll leave you two alone so you can figure out whatever the hell it is you have going on.” It comes out harsher than I expected, but shit, this just complicates everything.

Cara starts to speak, rushing to say something, I’m sure to deny what’s happening, but I cut her off. I need to get out of here and call Nellie. I need to breathe and clear my head, and I can’t do that with those two looking at me and each other like that.

“Don’t, Cara. Not my business. I have enough of my own to be minding someone else’s. Just be careful, both of you.” How hypocritical of me when I know damn well what’s going on with me and Nellie. What a mess.

I shake my head, walking in the other direction, pulling the phone from my back pocket to text Nellie.

Me:

We have a problem. Call me when you can.

Nellie:

Is everything okay?

Me:

Unclear. Call me when you can.

Nellie:

Ok

I drive back to my hotel once we all have dinner and drinks. I try hard to focus on my sister and her night, but all I keep repeating in a loop is how I really want to tell Manny about Nellie, but the whole situation just got a little bit more complicated. We’re both adults; it’s not like they can act like we aren’t. Still, this is turning into a knotted mess, and we need to be on the same page before anything can be said.

“Hey,”I say to Nellie, who’s walking to my car with a bag in hand. She’s wearing a black, one piece bathing suit with some sort of net dress over it, sandals with small bows, and her oversized sunglasses. Her hair is wrapped in a bun over her head, and she’s flashing me the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

“Hey, handsome,” she replies, opening the door and sliding in. “God, I love this car.” She touches the door and the dashboard like she always does, slow and determined, taking it all in, always seeking to feel, wanting to control the how and when. I find myself wanting to be under her touch.

“So do I, baby girl. So do I.” I bought this Barracuda at an auction three years ago, and it has become my most treasured possession. I’m very mindful of where I drive this car, and I definitely don’t take it out every day, but after Nellieloved seeing the first time, I find myself wanting to find as many excuses as possible to take her in it.

We head down the road, taking the quickest way out of Baker Oaks to the highway, trying to avoid too many people seeing us. Leave it up to me to drive the flashiest car there ever was, but with it being so early, I’m confident most people are sleeping.

“That coffee’s yours.” I point to the iced coffee in the cup holder, and she grabs it immediately, taking a sip and fluttering her eyelashes.

“Heaven in a cup.” I chuckle at her words and continue the silent drive. She’s quiet, which is not common for her, and I don’t like it. What’s going on in that smart brain of hers today?

“Are you ready for today?”

“Did you take your meds?” I flinch at her question, and she immediately softens her features. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I’m just a little worried about today.”

“What are you worried about?” When I got back from Nashville, I asked Nellie if she’d like to go sailing with me, and she said yes so quickly. Our siblings will be here tomorrow, and things will get a little bit more complicated, so I want to soak in all the time I can with her. But if I’m being honest with myself, I just want to come clean. I want to tell everyone how much I like Nellie, but I need to talk to my brother first. He’d never forgive me if he found out from someone else.

“Well…last time we went out on the boat, you know what happened, and I’m having the hardest time wrapping my head around it.” She lifts her glasses and flashes her pretty green eyes at me. I let her words rest between us and continue driving. No music. No sound. Just Nellie’s candor between us. She raises her hands in defense when I cock my eyebrows at her. “I’m not blaming you. I promise I’m not. I’m just worried, okay?”

“I know. It’s part of the reason why I want to do thisagain. Yes, I took my medicine. Yes, I have a bag with all of them here too, and I put a bag with rescue meds to bring on the sailboat. If it makes you feel safer, I’m happy to call Martin to come with us. He can sail.” I point to the glove box; she takes the hint and opens it.

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