Page 4 of A Convenient Secret
“What’s wrong with you?” Someone shakes me, and I finally focus my sight.
“There is a fire.” I’m pretty sure I said the words, but I don’t recognize my voice.
“There is no fire.” Aaron grips my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “You’re safe.”
“There is no fire?” Oxygen floods my lungs, and I gasp.
“What the fuck, Lily? It was probably only a drill, and you completely panicked.”
“I’m sorry. I-I—”
“I grabbed your purse. Your shift is over anyway. Are you okay?” He hands me my bag.
“I’msorry.”
“Stop saying that. It’s okay. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, thank you.” I take the bag from him.
As my nerves and heart resume their normal function, I know I need to say something, but I don’t want to lie to Aaron.
There have been enough lies in my life.
I ring the bell for the third time. My friend Saar and her husband, Corm, are hosting a barbecue I’m late for. Perhaps they all are in the back and don’t hear the bell.
But I hear a commotion, and finally the door opens. Saar smiles at me.
I give her a hug. “I’m sorry I’m so late.”
“How was it?” she asks, but turns away, distracted.
Oh, shit, I forgot I told my friends I’m breaking up with a boyfriend. An imaginary boyfriend. God, I hate to lie to them.
But when you’re twenty-five, single, and new in town, people feel the need to partner you up. So I made up a dude. Not the finest moment of my life, but who’s counting?
Who knew people would want to meet my fake boyfriend? So I had to dump him today.
I wish I could keephimaround. He was a perfectdecoy when I didn’t want to go somewhere. He was my perfect avoidance tactic. But unfortunately, there are too many secrets in my life already, and sprinkling them with this lie became too much.
Saar’s cat Coco dashes from under the console table and practically flies up the stairs.
“Thewe she is.” A little girl runs to the staircase, her ponytail bouncing.
“Zach, Zoya.” Saar pulls me with her, away from the entrance. “Why don’t we go make your burgers? Uncle Corm has a special sauce for you.”
“But we want to play with the kitten.” The girl frowns, already halfway up the stairs.
“Shewants to play with her.” A boy—with very similar features to the girl—puts his hands in his pockets with a bored expression.
And I realize who they are. I have never met these twins, but I’ve heard about them.
“Zoya, it’s Coco’s bedtime.” Saar looks at me, desperate.
Zoya looks up, and then shrugs and bounces down. “What secwet sauce?”
“It wouldn’t be a secret if she told you.” Her brother shakes his head. “Let’s go outside.”
They start toward the patio, but then Zoya stops. “Auntie Saaw, I wish we had a kitten.”
