Page 100 of The Lies I've Told
“What?”
“It doesn’t sound odd when you say it,” I said before hanging up on my clueless brother.
I rose from the chair and slid my phone back in my pocket. With one last glance at the bay, I headed back toward my suite.
To Millie.
James had said it might take him a few weeks, which meant my time as this Aiden was limited.
It always had been, but now, it felt real.
I’d always known I’d eventually have to tell her, but knowing and doing were two very different things.
And the closer I got to the reality of it, the more scared I became.
“Is this your daily routine now?” My sister’s voice filled the parlor as her quick steps came up behind me.
“Nice to see you, too,” I replied, leaning back in the plush sofa chair I’d repositioned to face the large glass windows that overlooked the backyard and bay. “What about you? Is thisyourdaily routine? Showing up after breakfast to inspect Mom’s handling of things?”
I glanced up to see her standing next to me, Ruby snuggling up to her chest in one of those infant carrier devices that always baffled me.
Molly’s mouth hung open until she finally turned. “I do not—that’s not why I’m here.”
I made a sound of disbelief that closely resembled something I’d heard Ruby make the other day when spitting up milk.
“Well, at least I don’t sit here all day, swooning over my boyfriend.”
“I’m not swooning,” I answered.
“Oh, so you’re not sitting here staring at him while he…” She glanced out toward the shed. “Hey, where’d he go?”
I put my pencil down, a little put off that my sister hadn’t noticed any of the work I had spread out in front of me. “Didn’t you hear?”
“Hear what? Oh my gosh, he didn’t leave, did he? If he did, I swear to God, I will track him down and—”
Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I turned. “He didn’t leave.”
“Oh,” she simply said. “Well, that’s good because I don’t think I’m in my best fighting condition yet after giving birth.” Pink tinted her cheeks, showing her embarrassment.
“It’s good to know you’ve grown confident in Aiden’s and my relationship though.”
“I have!” she argued as I pivoted away, readying to gather up my stuff. “Millie, I’m sorry. I just—maybe it’s a knee-jerk reaction.”
“Why? Because I’m not worth hanging around for?”
“No,” she answered. Her hand touched my arm, pulling me back toward her. “Because I wasn’t.”
I let out a deep sigh.
Now, it was me who felt like a jerk.
Jake and Molly had been high school sweethearts until one day, after the devastating death of his mother, Jake walked away.
From his family, his hometown, and most importantly, Molly.
“I thought you were over all that.”
Her eyes rounded with warmth. “I am,” she said. “Well, ninety-nine-point-nine percent of me is, but there will always be the tiniest sliver of doubt.”
