Page 16 of The Lies I've Told
“Now, you’re speaking my language.”
After a bit of a rocky start, Millie and I seemed to find our rhythm just fine.
I was a little apprehensive when she pulled off onto a sleepy street and said, “This is the most happening place on the island.”
After a quick look around, I swore she was joking.
But the second we stepped onto that open-air patio and I felt the warm breeze against my face, I had to hand it to her; it wasn’t half bad.
“Silly Millie McIntyre, back in the ’Coke!” someone hollered from the kitchen as we took our seats.
She turned to see a big, burly guy emerge, holding a few menus as he slung a kitchen towel over his shoulder.
“Billy! So good to see you.”
“You, too. Haven’t seen you since your sister’s wedding, but I figured you’d be around sometime soon. Molly looks like she’s about to explode.” He made a motion with his hands, making the round shape of a pregnant belly.
“I’m surprised you haven’t heard yet, considering the speed at which gossip is spread through this place, but Molly and Jake are now the proud parents of a little baby girl.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.” He cupped his hands over his mouth and hollered. “Drinks on the house, y’all! Our good doctor is a daddy!”
Everyone cheered as Billy took our orders. Millie ordered a Long Island iced tea while I stuck with a whiskey sour.
“I hope you aren’t expecting that whiskey to be Scottish because I’m pretty sure Billy only serves Kentucky whiskey, and I’d hate for you to be upset. After all,” she said, a slight grin tugging at her bottom lip, “my sister made me promise to treat you like royalty, and I wouldn’t want it getting back to her that you were forced to drink Southern whiskey.”
“After the week I’ve had, I wouldn’t care if it came from Jamaica as long as it burned on its way down and made me forget.”
Her eyes met mine, and time seemed to stand still for a brief moment. “What are you trying to forget, Aiden?”
I opened up my mouth to respond, but Billy stepped in, delivering our drinks before running off to another table.
I picked up the glass and took a large swallow, nearly downing the whole thing in one gulp. “Nothing. Everything. Tell me more about your sister,” I said, quickly changing the subject.
She sort of laughed. “Why? Do you want to date her? I think she’s a little tied up at the moment.”
“No,” I replied. “Although, if she looks anything like you, my hat goes off to the good doctor. He must be a lucky man.”
Her eyes narrowed in on mine, not falling for my cheap shot at flirtation one bit. “Well, let’s see…Molly is fiercely loyal and strong-willed. She believes any problem can be solved with a couple of hours in the kitchen and a few baked goods. And she’s kind.” She paused for a moment before looking up at me. “Why do you want to know so much about my sister?”
I shrugged, letting my fingers trace circles through the condensation that had formed. “Just a handy trick I’ve picked up over the years. Works great with clients.”
“I’m not your client,” she deadpanned.
“No.” I laughed. “You’re definitely not, but it still works. You see, when you sit down with a stranger and say, ‘Tell me a little about yourself,’ more than likely, you’re going to get a handful of shit.”
Her forehead rose in amusement. “Go on.”
“People don’t often know themselves. Or if they do, they don’t like to share it with anyone. Revealing who we really are is vulnerable and scary.”
“So, you ask them to tell you about someone else? Why? I don’t get it.”
“Not just anyone else. Someone close. A sibling is always great because it’s such a delicate relationship.”
“Okay…”
I’d obviously lost her. “When you were describing Molly, your face lit up with emotion. I saw love and respect but also a twinge of jealousy.”
“I’m not jealous!”
