Merry Little Lies

by Addison Lloyd

  Yet some people lived like this.

  “Are we just going to stare at it all day?” Carli asked.

  “You in a hurry to bond with your family?”

  She rolled her eyes. “The Chem test I totally failed last week? That was more fun.”

  “Brutal.”

  Carli opened the door. “Let's just get this over with.”

  We reached the front door when I heard Aaron hit the alarm for his SUV. I resisted the urge to turn around. The guy had been pushy. Betsy had this. I had this. But he kept up and didn’t bail. Even after I was a jerk to him. I guess he earned a few points for that.

  An expressionless man greeted us at the door and announced our arrival. Were butlers really a thing? And who had their guests announced? Rich people, apparently.

  Aunt Kay greeted us and ushered us into a lavish living room filled with people and noise. Christmas had erupted leaving no place untouched. And while I could appreciate the beauty in the room, the silver and white decorations sparkling against the dark mahogany wood, it felt distant like a painting technically correct but without life.

  Kay’s idea of a small gathering was ten times bigger than mine. Some of the people there I remembered from the gala. Their faces, not their names. But at least as Rob I wasn’t expected to remember.

  Carli retreated into herself as soon as we entered the house, or should I say mansion. I gave her space and mingled. I’d noticed several paintings I’d only seen in Art books, and I itched to explore. But was there any point? It just reminded me of wanting things I couldn’t have. And that made me think of Aaron. He’d followed us in according to the monotone announcement, and then got lost in the crowd.

  How did he know Carli? He’d said Aunt Kay. That implied he and Carli had been close, or they were related in some way. I glanced around the room trying to catch a glimpse of him.

  “So, you’re the elusive Rob?”

  The guy was cute in a preppy, conservative, sort of way. His eyes crinkled in amusement, but it was a warm humor, and not at all mocking. I liked him right away.

  “That’s me,” I said with a smile, shaking his hand. “The mysterious boyfriend.”

  “I’m Mark. Carli’s cousin.” He nodded toward the mantle where Kay played it up to an audience of partygoers. “That’s my mom.”

  “No way.”

  He laughed, and I ducked my head. “Sorry. That was rude.”

  “It’s fine. My three older brothers are just as …traditional,” he said. “I’m the Lydia Deetz of the family.”

  “A Beetlejuice reference. Nice.”

  “Thanks.” He had cute dimples that had no effect on me. “I mean, art doesn’t interest me at all. It’s mostly boring.”

  “Then you’re not looking at the right art.”

  He glanced around the room at the various paintings. “Fair point.”

  I could show him some things that might change his mind, but I needed to remember my role. Rob wasn’t into art or painting or cute guys. “So, no art. What do you like?”

  He grinned. “Another thing that makes me an outcast. I love graphic novels.”

  “You know that’s still art, right?”

  “Not according to my mom.”

  Thankfully, this was a passion Rob and I both shared. “What did you think of the final White Knight comic?”

  “The one with the Joker?” His eyes sparkled. “That ending was sick.”

  “Totally off the rails.” I could talk about comic books all day. I couldn’t use my meager earnings on them, but Rob bought every issue. I suspected he got them more for me, but I never said anything.

  “What about the new X of Swords?” Mark searched my face and I felt like it was a test. An easy one.

  “Total trash.”

  “It’s an epic crossover. And the name’s based off the ten of swords Tarot card. What’s not to like?”

  I laughed. “The X-men have powers, dude. They don’t need swords.”

  Something caught Mark’s attention and I followed his gaze. Carli was cornered by her aunt and an older guy I suspected was her uncle. Carli stared at the ground, looking defeated.

  “They've always been so hard on her.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “In a clan of boys, she’s the only girl.”

  “That’s not a reason.” My hands clenched at my side.

  “It’s not.” Mark touched my arm. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “I’m overreacting.” I forced myself to relax. Carli and I weren’t together like Mark thought, but she was still my friend. And it wasn’t that his parents treated her like she didn’t belong that bothered me, it was that she let them.

  “Ignore me,” Mark said. “I don’t really know what the deal is. Mom doesn’t do this to the boys. I mean, she sometimes gives Aaron a hard time, but not like this.”

  We’d both been watching Carli nod her head as they talked to her, but my head whipped around when he mentioned Aaron. “What do you—”

  “Attention, everyone.” Kay tapped a spoon against her wineglass and the room grew quiet.

  Dread pooled in my stomach. I had a bad feeling about this.

  “I’d like to thank everyone for being here, today. And for participating in our amazing event. We were able to raise quite a bit to help underprivileged youth have access to the arts. I’d like to thank my family for supporting me in my charity work. My husband George, my children Bryce, Patrick, Christopher, and Mark. And of course, my niece and nephew, Carli and Aaron, for being here today.”

  Wait. If Aaron was her nephew, was he Carli's cousin? If they were related, that explained the anger. No one could make you angry like family. Except old boyfriends and thankfully, that had just been ruled out.

  But it didn’t make sense. I’d been at Carli’s house tons of times. I followed her on Instagram. Twitter, and Snap Chat. Rob and I talked about everything. If there was some long-lost cousin, I’d know about it. Wouldn’t I?

  “We're especially excited to get to meet Carli's boyfriend, Rob.” She glanced around the room. “Rob, dear. Where are you?”

  I wanted to sink back into the woodwork. Instead I waved my hand so everybody could stare at me. Fun.

  “And honestly, for the longest time, we assumed Carli …” She waved her hand to dismiss that thought. “We’re just glad you’re both actually here.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Mark glared at his mom.

  “Was she implying Carli was gay or that I wasn’t real?”

  “Both?” He shook his head, his dark eyes like stone. “She does this every time.”

  Carli wrapped her arms around herself, eyes on the floor.

  “Excuse me.” It was time to be a good boyfriend. I left Mark and pushed my way through to Carli, slipping my arm around her. “Are you okay?”

  “Kill me now.”

  “You sure?” I asked. “Any certain way?” I tried to get a smile from her, but it didn't work. I wasn't sure if she was more humiliated, angry, or sad. Probably all three. I hugged her close.

  “Just ignore them.”

  I was about to say those very words when someone beat me to it. A gorgeous but annoying someone.

  “Go away, Aaron.”

  “Come on Carli. You have to talk to me sometime.”

  “No, I don't.”

  I was torn between leaving them to work out whatever dispute they had or standing by my girlfriends’ side. Oh, who was I kidding? I was rooted to the spot.

  Neither spoke and the silence shifted into awkward.

  “So, you guys are cousins? Grew up together?” I had to say something. Aaron gave me a funny look.

  “Are you sure you’re her boyfriend?”

  “Uh. Yeah. Sure.” I glanced at Carli, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “I mean, I’m sure.” Had I said something to give myself away? Were they not cousins? Trying to connect the dots when they were scattered everywhere wasn’t easy.

  Carli knocked my arm from aro
und her shoulder. “Of course, he's my boyfriend,” she snapped, glaring at Aaron. There was the girl I knew and platonically loved.

  All her frustration seemed to be focused on this poor guy, who as far as I knew, hadn’t done anything except worry about her. There was a history there, and I felt off not knowing what it was.

  Aaron’s body tensed (and yes, I noticed). Maybe he wasn’t as nonchalant about the whole thing as he pretended. “Wouldn’t your boyfriend know who I am?”

  That got my attention. “Wait,” I said. “Who are you?”

  He ignored me, continuing to stare at Carli.

  “Maybe because I don't talk about you.” She crossed her arms with a scowl.

  I’d had enough. Someone needed to start talking. “Hello?” I waved my hands at them. Probably looking like a maniac but I didn’t care. “Somebody want to clue me in?”

  Aaron turned and held out his hand. “Let's try this again. I'm Aaron,” he said. “Carli's brother. And you are?”

  My mouth dropped open. How was this possible? How could I know someone for a year and not know she had a brother? A cute, cocky, sex-on-a-stick brother?

  He started to take his hand away and I recovered quickly, grabbing it. I couldn’t pass up a chance to touch him again. How pathetic was that?

  He raised an eyebrow at me.

  Right. He was still waiting for a response. I started to give him the same answer as last time when I realized I couldn’t do that. “Rob,” I said. “Carli's boyfriend, nice to meet you.”

  Was Aaron reintroducing himself really necessary or did he just want to make a point? Or, like me, did he just want one more touch? I shook his hand enjoying the feel of it. The promise of more that was still somehow reluctantly there. His fingers trailed against my palm as he let go, sending tingles of sensation down my spine. I was so screwed. Crushing on my fake girlfriend’s estranged brother. This was bad. Unbelievably bad.

  He tilted his head as he watched my face carefully.

  I really hated my heritage sometimes. That look in his eyes told me he was reading my emotions rather accurately. He knew I felt it, too. And he’d done it as a challenge. But was it because he was interested or because he was an asshole? My body didn't care. Not one bit.

  “Are you in college?” I asked. He didn't live with Carli and her mom. In fact, Rob and I were frequent visitors to their house, and Carli’s mom knew exactly who Carli’s boyfriend was. I was. It was the aunt we were trying to fool, so why were we are still putting on this show?

  I had no doubt he assumed I was gay and single when we’d first met. And although both those things were still true, I couldn't tell him. The whole situation was ridiculous. But until Carli told me otherwise, I’d continue playing my part.

  Aaron turned to face Carli. “You really don't talk about me, do you?”

  “Rob,” she said, taking my hand. Was she staking her claim? “My brother, Aaron, deserted us so he could go to private school and live off Dad’s money.”

  “None of that is accurate or fair, Carli.” Aaron was not as chill as he’d been a moment ago. He seemed taller. Louder. Several people turned to stare at us.

  I liked this side of him. The man behind the Boy Scout. Was that bad?

  “There's nothing wrong with wanting to be prepared for the future.” He lowered his voice but not his intensity. “It was an opportunity, and I took it.”

  “Oh, I know,” Carli said.

  “Mom doesn't care, so why do you?”

  “She cares, Aaron.” She waved her arms around for emphasis. “You’re just not around to see it.”

  He looked down, and I knew her ammunition had struck its target. I didn't want to be in the middle of their sibling squabble, but you couldn't have paid me to leave.

  “I'm getting another drink,” Carli said.

  By drink, I was sure she meant Diet Coke not the champagne that was floating around but apparently, I didn’t know that much about her.

  “Don't follow me.”

  I was fairly sure she was talking to Aaron. But I wasn't going to take the chance that I was wrong.

  She stormed away, and we were suddenly alone. Alone in a room full of people, but it felt as if we were the only two there.

  “That was fun,” Aaron said, his voice low.

  “You certainly know how to clear a room.”

  “It’s a gift really.”

  And then for some reason, I couldn’t stop the grin on my face. This guy was always surprising me. “I could see where it could come in handy if you didn’t want to deal with jerks all the time.”

  “Well it doesn’t work on everyone.” His eyes wandered over my body and back up to my face. “Clearly.”

  And suddenly we were back where we started. At least I was back where I started. Standing way too close to a complete stranger and wanting to pull him even closer.

  “So, you guys don't get along?” I could've smacked myself. Understatement. Why did I want to focus on that? But I needed to say something. Something to keep him from walking away. I had this feeling I would never see him again and that would be a tragedy. Okay, so maybe I was being a little dramatic.

  “We were actually really close growing up,” Aaron said, his voice sad as he stared off in the direction Carli had gone.

  “So, what happened?”

  “Things.”

  “It’s okay. I mean, you don’t know me.” I said.

  He studied his hands for a moment. “You heard her. Carli thinks I sold out.”

  “Is that what you think?”

  “Mom had Carli. Carli had mom. They were close. They didn’t need me.”

  “I'm sure that's not true.” Why did I have this sudden urge to hug him? He seemed like the guy always taking care of everyone else, but in this moment, he needed someone. I had to stop thinking thoughts like that. I didn’t know Aaron. Not really. He left his sister and mom to live with his rich dad. I didn’t need anyone in my life who’d run when things got tough.

  “It doesn't matter now. Choices have been made.” Aaron titled his head. “So, Rob,” he said. “I have a question for you.”

  I crossed my arms, trying to brace myself. “Shoot.”

  “Is Carli a lesbian?”

  “What? Are you kidding me?”

  “Are you her… what’s it called? Beard?”

  “Just stop before you embarrass yourself,” I said, shaking my head. “She’s got a boyfriend.”

  “So, you keep saying.” He gave me a crooked smile, and in that moment, I didn’t care that I’d messed up. That Carli was going to chop me up and feed me to her pet iguana, Isadora—Izzy for short. That Aaron and I were from two completely different universes. None of that seemed to matter.

  “Do you know something I don't?” I asked.

  He shrugged and I wondered if there was more to it.

  Carli and Rob were great together. If she was a lesbian, would she really be dating Rob? Or could she be bi? I shook those thoughts away. It wasn't my business and I hated that I was doubting her.

  “I'm sorry,” Aaron said. “Forget I said anything. That was rude”

  “Yeah. You think?”

  “It’s just…” Our eyes caught and he searched for …something.

  “What?”

  “Never mind.” He shook his head. “Forget I said anything, Rob.”

  I suspected his questions were less about Carli and more about my reaction to him. I didn't want to talk about that, so I let him make an excuse and wander off into the crowd.

  FOUR:

  AARON

  Aunt Kay decked out her house with more ‘Balls of Holly’ than technically necessary. I was used to it. Her beautiful home hadn’t made an impression on me in quite a while. But now, seeing it through Rob’s eyes—the eyes of someone unable to get basic repairs done on their car--I noticed the extravagance. And the waste. She prided herself on raising money for those less fortunate, but the decorations on the tree could probably feed a family for a year. And her theme change
d every year. What did she do with the old decorations? I’d never thought about, but now it made me uneasy. Because if I looked too hard at my aunt and uncle’s lifestyle, I also had to examine my own.

  I mingled with the rest of the guests; my thoughts stuck on one in particular. Why was I so hung up on this guy? As I chatted with my way too conservative cousins, avoiding things like politics, religion, and cute boys, my gaze searched for that splash of red hair.

  I should find Carli and fix things between us, instead of obsessing over her boyfriend.

  “Am I that boring?”

  I glanced back at Mark, the only cousin I could stand. His eyes danced with amusement.

  “Usually,” I said. “But not today.”

  “Looking for someone?”

  “Nope.” I turned to face him, determined to not get distracted again. “So, you’re thinking about going to Mizzou?” I tried to pick up the thread of our conversation. I could tell by the smirk I’d that I failed.

  “Only if I want to be disinherited.”

  “Right.” I forgot about my aunt’s falling out with the school over –God. I didn’t even know what. Was I that self-centered? But it didn’t take much to upset my aunt and her high morals.

  “Central Methodist University.”

  “Aunt Kay’s okay with that? I mean it’s not a bad good school but it’s not even one of the top ten in Missouri.”

  “It’s close by and a Christian school.”

  I tilted my head, watching him closely. “Why do you want to go there? It doesn’t seem like your thing.”

  He leaned in closer. I wasn’t sure why. There was no way anyone would overhear us with all the chatter in the room. “They have a killer athletic program. And it’s small.”