Page 44 of The Lies I've Told
I tuned out as introductions were given. I didn’t care.
I truly didn’t.
Soon, the smiling couple and pink-coat lady were escorting me toward the back of the home.
“This will be your room. Boys, do you want to meet Aiden?”
Their request was met with nothing short of a few murmurs, but as I entered, I found myself face-to-face with my so-called brothers.
One of them curiously eyed me, his glasses falling to the bridge of his freckled nose as he stood to greet me. “Hi, I’m James,” he said.
And the other was a short, pale boy with red hair and a small smile, who followed suit. “And I’m Ben.”
Although I hadn’t seen Millie since our lunch the other day with Dean, we’d communicated via text on our departure time.
I’d been sort of surprised to see her name pop up on my phone the day before, considering our rooms were literally inches apart, but I’d answered her questions and gone about my day.
But, as the evening drew to a close and there was still no Millie, I began to wonder if she was indeed avoiding me.
And if so, why agree to this trip?
Although I guessed I hadn’t given her much of an alternative.
And why was that, Aiden?
I shook my head as I closed the door to my suite and made my way to the kitchen.
Stepping into the kitchen, Millie was the first thing I noticed. Dressed in a simple black slip dress, she looked casual and elegant at the same time. Tan sandals adorned her feet, and I couldn’t help but smile at the flirty pink polish on her toes, nor could I tear my eyes away before soaking in every last inch of that gorgeous tan skin.
The inn was still quiet as Millie and I took advantage of the late breakfast hours on Sunday morning to grab a quick bite to eat before we got on the early morning ferry.
“Good morning,” I greeted her before she noticed me standing in the entryway, checking her out.
She started a little, turning around to face me. “Good morning.” She blushed, caught in the middle of shoving a bear claw in her mouth. With frosting on her thumb and pointer finger, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry. I swear, I gain, like, a million pounds every time I come home. My sister is a genius.”
I nodded in agreement, heading for the coffeepot first. “I must agree. Although I didn’t grow up having them, I’ve grown fond of them since arriving here. They’re quite splendid.”
She laughed a little under her breath, amused by me somehow. “Splendid,” she said. “I’ll have to tell her you said that.” There was a momentary pause as she finished her last bite before she said in a nonchalant way, “I bet you had amazing pastries, growing up, didn’t you?”
The comment caught me off guard, the memories of James and Ben still so fresh in my mind. “What?”
“Sorry,” she said, that blush flaming bright red. “I saw your bio on your website. That’s creepy, isn’t it? But I was curious. And, well, where you grew up, I figured you would have had nice pastries in a house like that.”
I could see the panic in her eyes, probably in response to the panic in mine.
“Right, of course. Excellent pastries. You’re correct.”
She breathed out in relief, as I held mine. “I’ve always thought English pastries are so fancy compared to ours. Well, anywhere really.”
She began to ramble on about France and madeleines while I tried to carry on, politely nodding. I opened the cupboard, grabbed a cup and set it on the counter.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash.
“Oh!” Millie cried as we both looked down at my coffee cup in pieces on the floor.
“I’m sorry,” I said, frazzled, looking up at the counter, down at the floor, and back again. The counter seemed to wave, making my eyes blink several times.
“This isn’t something you can run from.”James’s words began to ring in my head.
