Lie to Me

by Preston, Natasha

  My dad, Brooke, and Freddy wish Savannah a happy birthday, and we dig in. There are so many choices, but I waste no time in making a mountain of greasy food on my plate. Savannah is a little more reserved in her selection than me, but she puts more food on than I would have thought.

  She’s either very hungry or being polite.

  “So, after breakfast, we’ll go for the walk, have lunch at the pub, and then on to something else,” Mum says, spooning beans onto her plate.

  Heidi nudges her arm. “Mum, Savannah might not want to do that.”

  “Right. Of course. I forget that she’s not been with us the whole time.”

  Yeah, that’s how I feel, too.

  Savannah looks up at Mum over the sea of food in the middle of the table. “No, I’d really like to. Kent has told me all about your birthdays, and I don’t have any traditions, so I’d love to experience yours.”

  Mum beams, her glossy blue eyes shining. “Wonderful. That’s settled then.”

  I wonder what her birthdays were like. If she’s not close to her parents, did anyone bother celebrating her life while she was growing up? I’ve always had over-the-top shit every year, and as irritating as it got, especially in my teenage years, I’d rather have a big fuss than nothing at all.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Brooke says. “We will make up for every year you’ve had without tradition. Literally. Mum is way OTT.”

  “Hey!” Mum says, laughing. “You love birthdays and holidays at home.”

  Brooke widens her eyes at Savannah. “Wait until you see her at Christmas. It’s like a grotto in here.”

  “I can’t wait. I love Christmas.”

  “That’s good. You definitely can’t be a grinch around my mother,” Heidi adds. “Now, hurry up and eat, so I can give you presents.”

  Savannah looks to me for help. She’s not used to having a lot of attention or being showered with gifts, but I shrug because she’s ours now, and she’s just going to have to get used to it.

  29

  Savannah

  Today has been the best birthday ever, and it’s only two p.m. Kent’s family is awesome. Their birthday traditions are designed to make the birthday person feel super special. I don’t think there is anything his parents wouldn’t do for their children.

  They would never betray him.

  I’ve been accepted as one of them, and they already treat me like one of the family. Being part of something again makes my heart warm. It’s lovely to be around people who care so much about each other.

  Before everything went to shit with my family, we were like that. We spent a lot of time together. We made a big deal out of each other’s birthdays and took holidays together.

  Most of my friends hated family holidays when they were teens, but I loved them.

  I never would have thought we’d be here now.

  Mum hasn’t even tried to call me. She must have gotten my number from Simon unless he wanted to talk to me first. I wonder if he’ll get Mum to call next and let her try. I don’t really want to think about the possibility of her having my number but not wanting to call.

  I think my lack of communication over the last three years speaks for itself. I don’t want anything to do with them ever again.

  Kent takes his card from the server and slides it into his pocket. He insisted on paying for lunch for me and his family. Even though he has plenty of money, I hate him constantly spending it on me.

  “Thank you,” I say, trying not to be difficult.

  He grins triumphantly. “You’re welcome.”

  If it wasn’t my birthday, I would have pushed harder to pay at least part of the bill. Not that it would have gotten me anywhere.

  Simon never let me pay for anything, and back then, it didn’t bother me. It was what I was used to, just how we did things, but now, I have money of my own, and I want to pay my way.

  And the fact that I hate him now has probably changed my views on women paying.

  “Kent hasn’t had to pay for a birthday lunch in years. It was definitely overdue,” Heidi teases.

  “You’ve never had to pay for a birthday lunch,” Kent counters.

  Brooke adds, “We’re waiting for her to get the cats.”

  “I’m not going to be an old spinster!”

  “Keep telling yourself that,” Kent says.

  I stand with everyone else. “She has Toby.”

  “Ha!” Heidi points at Kent. “I’ll marry your friend if I have to.”

  “You will not,” he replies, turning up his nose.

  “I have to deal with you sleeping with my friend. Why shouldn’t you have the same?”

  Kent folds his arms. “Do you know where Toby has been? Because I do.”

  “Does Savannah know where you’ve been?”

  Laughing at Kent’s death glare to his sister, I grab my bag. “I don’t think I want to know where he’s been.”

  Kent’s parents walk out of the restaurant, shaking their heads in amusement. We follow, filtering out behind.

  “Hey, I’m not that bad!”

  I link my arm with Kent’s, and he bends down a fraction, placing a kiss on the top of my head. I close my eyes, taking a breath.

  “Really?” I say. “I’ll ask Max and see what he thinks.”

  “No, you won’t. Everything I’ve done with other women is in the past.”

  Leaning my head on his shoulder, I reply, “I know. I’m only messing around. I don’t want to know about the other women. Not any of them.”

  Not even Freya anymore. I hate what that bitch did to him. And I hate that, after he revealed his past betrayal, I still couldn’t reveal mine. It wasn’t the right time. But we’re getting closer, and things are moving forward, actually steaming forward, and I don’t want to keep it from him anymore.

  After this weekend, I will have to open up. Whatever it does to me to go back there, I have to. Kent deserves the truth. I just have no idea how I’ll be able to re-close that wound once it’s been ripped open again.

  I lost everything, including myself, when it all blew up, and I’m terrified of starting that process again. I’ve worked so hard. It’s exhausted me to rebuild my life.

  It’s different now.

  “What happens next then?” I ask Kent as we walk … somewhere.

  “Well, next, we go out and do something. When we were young, it was theme parks and zoos. Actually, to be fair, it’s still that, but Mum has something different planned for your birthday.”

  “Yeah?”

  He nods. “Cocktail class.”

  “Well, the sound of that does not suck. I’m going to learn how to make cocktails?”

  “Yep.” He rolls his eyes. “We all are.”

  “Awesome.”

  The dark look he gives me shows he doesn’t think it’s very awesome, but who cares? Because today isn’t about him. What better way to spend your birthday than with lots of cocktails?

  “After that, I’ve told her she’s done, and I’m stealing you.”

  My tough guy who takes no shit still listens to his mum. If he had his way, we would probably be in bed.

  “What are we doing when you’ve stolen me?”

  Arching an eyebrow, he grins. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly tell you that.”

  “No fair.”

  “Never said I was going to play fair.”

  “Can you give me a clue?”

  “You’ll need a change of clothes for two nights. No pyjamas. We’re sleeping naked.”

  We’re going away together?

  “You can’t leave it there. Where are we going?” It’s not the Maldives. That’s too far for just two nights.

  He stops us in the middle of the street, his family still walking ahead.

  Pressing his forehead to mine, he whispers, “Somewhere romantic where I can have you all to myself for a whole two days.”

  “I love the sound of that.”

  “Me, too. Today is proving to be rather … crowded.”

 
“No, it’s been lovely. Kent, your family is great.”

  His eyebrow lifts. “Hmm. They’re meddling.”

  “They love you. You’re lucky.”

  Wincing, he holds me close. “I’m sorry. Have you heard from your parents?”

  “They don’t even have my number. It’s fine. Believe me, I’m better off without them.”

  “I’m still sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Just be really nice to me this weekend.”

  Laughing, he presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Oh, I plan to.”

  After cocktail-making, which was awesome, Kent’s family insisted on walking us both back to mine after we left the bar in the city, so I could pack, but Kent made them promise to leave immediately. I love his family, but I’m ready to be alone with him, too.

  I’m going to tell him about Simon and my family in the week, so I want to soak up every moment of perfection with him before things get messy for me, before I have to tear open my heart again.

  Kent squeezes my arm and grins down at me. He’s looking forward to being alone, too. Heidi is ahead of us with her parents, and Kent and I are behind. Freddy and Brooke have already gone home.

  We turn the corner, and my building comes into view.

  My heart stops, and my feet plant.

  Simon turns around and spots me.

  No.

  Shit, I can’t breathe.

  No, not now!

  “What’s wrong?” Kent asks.

  His family hears and turns around.

  “Sav,” Simon calls.

  No, no, no.

  I’m free-falling. The floor whips away, and I plummet into darkness.

  “Savannah, what’s going on? Who is he?” Kent presses.

  Simon is walking toward me.

  Kent tugs my arm, so I’m facing him. “Savannah!”

  “Hey, get off her,” Simon orders.

  My back stiffens, catapulting me back to a reality I hoped would never happen. “Shut up, Simon!” I snap, clenching my trembling hands.

  “What the hell is going on? Who the fuck are you?” Kent shouts at Simon.

  “I’m Sav’s guy.”

  I glare at him. “No, he’s not. He’s nothing. Get out of here, Simon. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until we sort this out.”

  “Hey!” Kent snaps. “She said get out of here, so fuck off.”

  Kent’s dad holds his arm up, trying to calm him down. Kent’s face is red, and the way he’s glaring at Simon makes me nervous.

  My heart falls to the floor. My old world and my new world weren’t ever supposed to meet. They don’t work together, like gin and Coke.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about, mate, so back off,” Simon says.

  “Stop it!” I shout. God, we have a crowd watching now. “Simon, go. There’s nothing you can ever say to me to make me stop hating you. I want nothing to do with you.”

  “Don’t say that. We all miss you. Your parents are still devastated. What happened was a mistake, Sav.”

  Kent tenses beside me.

  Fuck.

  Please go, Simon, please.

  “A mistake? You were sleeping with my sister for six months before I found out, and you’re trying to claim it was a mistake!”

  “Can we go somewhere and talk?” he asks.

  “No.” I almost laugh. He’s insane. “Leave!”

  “You need to go right now,” Kent says, taking a step closer to Simon. His dad is right there, ready to stop Kent if he tries to punch Simon or something.

  “This isn’t over,” Simon says, turning around. He walks back down the street, leaving my life splitting apart.

  Kent turns to me, eyes wide, chest puffed. He doesn’t look like he’s breathing.

  Tears sting my eyes. What have I done? I should have dealt with this properly.

  “Kent, I’m sorry,” I whisper.

  He doesn’t like lies. Not after Freya and what she did to him. He opened up and told me everything, and I kept my mouth shut.

  “He’s your ex. The one who was nothing?”

  My heart rips. “Yes.”

  “Jesus,” he seethes, turning his body away from me.

  “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, but …”

  “But what, Savannah?” he snaps, spinning back.

  Judy steps in. “Let’s go inside and talk. The street is no place for this.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. She lied. We’re done, Savannah.” Kent starts to walk away, and his dad follows him, calling his name.

  He’s walking away from me.

  His back is hunched. He’s angry, defeated, and betrayed.

  I did that to him. This is all my fault, and I have no idea what to do or how to fix it.

  I look desperately between Judy and Heidi, unable to move. Someone, do something! Stop him!

  I’m just standing here, like a frozen idiot, while the best thing I’ve ever had walks away. My heart shatters as he walks around the corner and out of sight.

  Pressing my hand against the searing pain in my chest, I take a ragged breath.

  Think, Savannah.

  Heidi steps in front of me. “Dad will talk to him. You need to let him cool off before you try.”

  I know that. He’s not in the mood right now. It’s just happened, and he’s going to be obsessing over the lie. I have to give him time, but, God, I don’t want to. I want to chase him down and beg for forgiveness.

  “Let’s go inside. I have questions.”

  Of course she does. This time, I’m not going to be able to talk my way around them either. Everything is out in the open. Well, almost everything.

  “Come on, darling,” Judy says, wrapping her arm around my back.

  I look up at her. “You’re shaking.”

  She smiles. “That’s you.”

  “Oh.”

  I’m shaking.

  We slowly climb the stairs. Each one feels like it’s taller than the last. Heidi takes my keys from my bag and lets us into my flat.

  “Take a seat,” Judy says, leading me to the sofa.

  I drop down, and that’s when I feel a tear roll down my cheek. “I didn’t mean to lie. I swear, I didn’t.”

  “Why did you? There’s no shame in being cheated on,” Judy asks.

  Dropping my eyes, I reply, “I couldn’t talk about it. Hurts too much.” But I’m going to have to tell them now.

  Heidi leans closer to me. “Because he cheated with your sister?”

  “Not just that, but because …” I take a breath as pain slices through my chest. “Because I found out about their affair while I was in the hospital, m-miscarrying our baby.”

  “Oh my God,” Judy whispers, scooting closer and wrapping me tightly in her arms. She lays her head against mine, like she’s trying to take the pain away.

  “I was only nineteen. We didn’t plan to get pregnant, but the pill didn’t work one month. I found out when I was seven weeks pregnant, and I was petrified. It took me two weeks to get used to it, and I started to believe that I could do it, you know. I was young and didn’t know anything, but I would learn how to be a good mum. I think I even started to get excited, but two days later, I woke up, haemorrhaging blood.”

  The words, my story, bleed from every pore, screaming as I reveal the most heartbreaking thing I’ve been through. I can’t believe how fast everything pours from my mouth, but if I can make them understand, then Kent has to.

  “Hon, I’m so sorry,” Heidi says, taking my hand.

  A tear rolls down my cheek. I feel it slide and curl under my jaw. “Simon wasn’t over that night. He said he was working late. I shouted for my mum, and she took me to the hospital. We all tried to call Simon, but his phone was off. My sister wasn’t answering either. A friend of Simon’s, who we’d rung to try to get ahold of him, came to the hospital. He told me he wouldn’t cover for him anymore, and he told me where they both were.”

  Judy shakes her head against
mine. “I can’t believe it.”

  “They were at a hotel. While I was losing my baby, my boyfriend was sleeping with my sister.” My hands curl into fists, and I cross my arms, pressing them into my chest. My baby died, and they weren’t there.

  “I hate them both,” Heidi says.

  “Yeah, me, too,” I reply with a ragged breath. “My parents were so angry with Isla to begin with, but it didn’t take them long to want to forget it all had happened. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t go back to the way things were. Simon and Isla kept seeing each other, and my parents said nothing.”

  There was no way I could be around them. They were both a reminder of the miscarriage. I was so young, and I had no idea how to grieve for a baby.

  “And that’s why you’re estranged from them,” Heidi says.

  “Yeah. They ruined everything, I lost so much, but I was the one who ended up getting blamed for the family rift.”

  Heidi shakes her head. “I cannot believe they took her side.”

  “I need to speak to Kent.”

  Judy grimaces. “Darling, I don’t think that’s a good idea yet. Give him an hour. Let his dad talk to him first.”

  I turn my head, and she moves back a fraction. “He hates me. I have to fix that. I have to try.”

  “He’s angry. He loves you. Since Freya fucked him over, he’s been obsessed with total disclosure. It’s the one breaking point he has. Right now, he’s just going to be pissed off that you lied, and until he calms down, he won’t see reason,” Heidi says.

  I turn to her. “But I can explain to him.”

  “Savannah, he’s not going to listen yet. Trust us, we’ve seen him when he’s like this. He shuts down cold and won’t hear anything. You had very good reasons not to want to talk about your past, but until he’s chilled the hell out, he’s not going to hear what you’re saying. Don’t do that to yourself. When you explain, he needs to be in a place to understand.”

  “How am I supposed to wait for that?” I rasp, dipping my head as the tears flow more freely.

  How am I supposed to wait for him when missing him hurts so much that I can’t breathe?

  I curl into Judy and sob until my throat is raw.

  30