She places the lid back on the pot and sets down her spoon, “It’ll be ready in ten minutes. Do you want to stay for dinner?”
“I don’t know, it didn’t go so well last time you cooked for me.” I grin.
She laughs, “Shut up, I rescind my invitation. You can go home.”
Her laugh makes me smile wider than I have in years. I hold out my hand to her as the music playing through the speaker turns to an Avett Brothers song I recognize. “Dance with me.”
She places her hand in mine and allows me to pull her against me. She takes a deep breath and lays her head on my shoulder. I watch her as she closes her eyes and smiles.
“You smell like trees,” she whispers.
“Careful,” I say quietly. “You’re giving me déjà vu.”
“What’s wrong with that?” She asks, lifting her head and meeting my gaze.
“That was the worst night of my life,” I tell her, letting my forehead fall against hers. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“It wasn’t the worst night of your life, Sam,” she says dismissively, trying to hide the emotion churning in the teal depths of her eyes.
“It was one of them,” I tell her honestly. She’s quiet, but her eyes are expressive as ever. She lays her head back on my chest and closes them again so I can’t read her. She’s figured it out, her eyes give her away.
We’re both quiet for a long time, slowly swaying to the music.
“I know it was you,” she says quietly.
“What was me?” I ask, resting my cheek on the top of her head.
“Sending Maddie and Elle to live with me.” She says in a dry tone.
The direction of the conversation takes me by surprise. I never thought she would suspect it was me that asked them to come live with her. But I do know how fiercely independent she is, she doesn’t want anyone trying to take care of her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I lie casually.
She looks up at me again and there’s no fooling her. “Sam, come on. It was two weeks after you showed up here and I had my little breakdown, and suddenly your sisters need a roommate?”
“Okay, yeah, I may have suggested it.” I shrug. “But only because they told me they had classes with you, that you were already friends. Their lease was up in a few months anyway so-”
“Sam,” She stops me with a smile. “They’re the best friends I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t have made it through this last year without them. Thank you.”
“You’re...welcome,” I say quietly, surprised by her reaction. I smile remembering the first time the twins met her. “The three of you were trouble from the moment you met.”
She grins up at me with that mischievous smile and I fall in love with her all over again.
Chapter 14
Three years ago…
Sam
I straighten my bow tie in front of the mirrored doors that lead into the ballroom and let out a heavy sigh. Cocktail hour started an hour ago, so the doors are closed and the corridor empty. My little sisters wanted to be fashionably late, knowing our mother would make us stay until at least nine. That’s the usual law of the land at her events like this. She likes to put on a good show for all the other socialites which means we must play our parts dutifully.
“Very handsome big brother,” Elle stomps up the stairs behind me with the grace of a drunken elephant, Maddie in tow. To any stranger, the only difference between the twins is their hair. They both have the same straight, raven locks. Elle wears hers cropped short at her chin and Maddie’s flows halfway down her back. But if there’s anything identical about them right now, it’s their tipsy grins.
“Are you both already trashed?” I ask wearily. “You only had two drinks at my house.”
“Plus the shots we took in the car,” Maddie grins widely, her eyes squinting up.
“Great,” I nod. “Mom will hold me personally responsible.”
The twins straighten up at the same time and put together their best sober expressions. “We will be good and hide on the dance floor, we promise.” Elle nods seriously.
“Yeah, we heard they actually have a good band this year.” Maddie giggles then stops abruptly when I look at her. “Okay, okay sorry.” She grins.
I shake my head but can’t help but smile, “Well come on then,” I offer each of them an arm so they can at least appear to be walking right. I’ve taken the heat for my two little sisters more times than I care to admit, but I’d do it all ten times over. In a family like ours, we are all each other has.
We push through the gilded doors and it’s like the scene of a movie before us. People dancing, drinking and laughing all dressed up in the most glamorous gowns and sharpest tuxedos that money can buy.
I do my best to play the part of the golden boy son my parents expect me to be. Mads and Elle have cleaned up their posture and seem significantly less tipsy than they did five minutes ago. They glide along next to me in their long, colorful dresses and heels that make them as tall as me. I give every male that looks in this direction a murderous glare.
We make our way to the large round table our parents are standing around and I brace myself for the inevitable passive-aggressive quips my mother will start doling out at our tardiness. Her back is to us as we approach. She is speaking with Vivien Harrington, laughing with the same woman she was talking horribly about just yesterday.
The eyes I have always assumed she has hidden in the back of her head under her cropped dark hair must have spotted us. She turns at just the right moment, “And here my children are now! An hour late despite the manners I raised them with.” She smiles sharply.
“Well,” Mrs. Harrington smiles-I think that was a smile, I can’t be sure. “That’s better than my daughter who I am sure will only show up as the dessert is being served, have a drink and then leave.” She rolls her eyes.
“It’s my fault,” I put on my most charming smile and come up with a lie that will make my mom look good so I don’t have to hear about it later. “I got held up with a patient in my rounds.”
“Ah, my son the brilliant doctor.” She grins at her fake friend. “Soon to be anyway. You know, Vivien, he’s also a medic in the Army? Such a good man.”
Vivien pretends to look impressed, “And your daughters, Evelyn?”
“Madison and Ovella are going the nursing route.” My mother smiles tightly. She says this with barely restrained disdain.
“Honestly, without nurses the doctors wouldn’t know what was going on or what to do.” I smile proudly at my sisters. “They are far more valuable than ten doctors combined.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” A familiar soft voice rings.
I look up to see Aubree sidling up next to Vivien in a slinky black gown that glistens and moves with each swish of her hips. Her jewel-toned eyes sparkle with a glint of mischief like she’s had as much to drink as my sisters have. Her glittering eyes meet mine briefly and she winks. Her long, violet red hair is elegantly curled and swept to the side, flowing down her porcelain neck and shoulders. I try, with every ounce of willpower I have to take my eyes off of her, but I’m too weak.
She’s the most breathtaking thing I have ever seen.
She clinks her champagne glass against Mrs. Harrington’s with an evil grin, “Tell me, mother, did I miss dessert?”
How did I not put that together? My mother has been friends with Vivien for years.
Vivien smiles with barely restrained rage, “No Darling, in fact you showed up early enough for the first course.”
“Damn,” Aubree sighs taking a long sip from her glass. She looks between me and my sisters thoughtfully. “The food they serve at these things is always incredibly disappointing considering how much money is thrown out just for one plate.”
I bite my tongue, but Elle and Maddie snicker beside me. Mom and Mrs. Harrington are glaring mildly at Aubree, who grins, amused.
“I’m Bree, by the way,” She sticks her hand out to the twins.
/>
“Maddie, and you are my new best friend.” Madison giggles.
“I’m Elle and our brother Sam,” Elle nods to me.
Aubree smiles at Elle and then lays her mischievous gaze on me. She reaches out and placed her cool hand in mine, “Nice to meet you, Sam.”
My mom tries to level her with a snarky comment. “Aubree dear, where is that husband of yours?”
“Oh, I’d bet he’s at a bar right now trying to pick up anyone willing to screw him,” Aubree says with the same amount of snark.
My mother and Aubree’s both give a bit of a start and stare wide-eyed at Aubree, who continues, on a roll now. “But considering you’re a “friend” of my mother’s, I’m sure my failed marriage has already been the subject of choice at many of your brunches. So, unfortunately, your attempt to put me in my place with catty remarks regarding my personal life is not going to do the trick. I’ve had too much champagne to give half a shit at this point.”
With this, she tips her glass to her ruby painted lips, finishing it off. She gives her glaring mother a weak shrug and her empty glass and saunters off to the bar for a refill.
My shoulders shake with barely restrained laughter. Mads and Elle dismiss themselves quickly so they can run off and laugh openly.
No one has ever stood up to our mom before. No one.
And the look on her face right now is a mixture of shock and embarrassment and it’s something I would love to whip out my phone and snap a picture of.
She regains her composure and looks hatefully at Mrs. Harrington. “Vivien, you must do something about that daughter of yours!”
Mrs. Harrington, who still looks slightly irritated but bored more than anything, just shrugs and says, “Well, you shouldn’t have tried to insult my daughter, Evelyn.”
My mother scoffs and storms off in a huff. I chuckle, turning to find our name cards on a nearby table; then I decide to go find Bree.
“Wait a moment,” Mrs. Harrington’s stern voice calls from behind me. I turn back to see what she wants and only now realize the true resemblance she and Bree share. The same violet-red hair, and emerald green eyes. They both have high, angled cheekbones but they look much more sharp and severe on Mrs. Harrington.
Aside from the exterior, you wouldn’t know they were related. She may have just taken up for Aubree now, but I’ve heard her speak horribly about her when she’s been over to my parent’s house with the other women in their strange and hateful circle of friends. Only now do I piece together that the wild, deviant child Mrs. Harrington was constantly complaining about was Aubree.
“How do you know my daughter?” She demands, eying me closely.
“School,” I tell her, unsure of how much Aubree wants her to know.
She purses her lips in a thin, fine line and finally lifts her chin slightly and says, “Yes, well, do tell your mother I apologize. It was nice meeting you, Samuel.”
“You too, Mrs. Harrington.” I nod curtly. “Will do.”
I turn before she has the chance to speak again. I head for the bar, where I’d be willing to bet Aubree has already befriended the bartender. I don’t see her right away so I order a drink and survey the large, crowded ballroom.
“Looking for me?” Bree asks, being dragged over to the bar by Elle and Maddie, each latched onto one of her arms.
“We love her,” Elle tells me.
“We’re going to keep her,” Maddie nods in agreement.
“Apparently I’m being kidnapped,” Bree shrugs nonchalantly, taking a sip of her drink. “I don’t mind, my husband's an asshole.”
“He sounds like it,” Elle chirps, picking up Bree’s left hand and looking for the ring that isn’t there.
Bree laughs darkly, swaying a little on her tall heels as she takes another swig out of her champagne flute, draining the contents. She breaks away from the twins, passing me on her way to the bar.
“Okay, not so fast.” I slip an arm around her waist just as she stumbles a bit and pull her against me to steady her. Her hands go to my shoulders on instinct and as she leans back to meet my gaze, her eyes flash darkly.
“What are you doing, Sam?” She cocks an eyebrow, an amused tone in her voice.
“Sobering you up,” I tell her, nodding towards the table with all of our name cards. “Let’s go get you some food, they’re about to start the first course.”
“I don’t want the first course,” she pouts, jutting out her bottom lip. “I want to get drunk and embarrass my mother.”
“Too bad,” I grin. I keep her tucked to my side and lead her over to our table. Conveniently, our name cards are beside each other. I know my mother’s friends better than to think it was a coincidence.
I pull out her chair and give her a look. She rolls her eyes but sits anyway, jabbing the guy to her left with her elbow. “Heyyy big bro,” she says, snatching her napkin off her plate just as the waiters bring around the soup and salad.
Her brother, looking shocked to see her, glances between Bree and me as I take my seat. “What are you doing here, Bree?”
“Same thing you’re doing here Carter,” she says tauntingly, picking up her fork. “Pleasing mommy and daddy.”
“But you’ve come to this thing maybe twice, our whole lives.”
“That’s not true, I always swing by for dessert.” She says seriously, taking a champagne flute from a passing waiter’s tray. “Also, free booze.”
He shoots her a bland look but ignores her comment, putting his arm around the blonde girl to his left, “Well Bree, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend.” He smiles between the two women. “Nina, this is my sister Bree.”
Bree’s eyes go wide and she drops her fork with a clank as she jumps up to give Nina a strangling hug. “Oh my gosh, it’s so good to meet you!” She gushes, squeezing her tightly. She stands beaming, “Carter has told me so much about you! You are so pretty,” She turns to her brother and smacks his shoulder with the back of her hand. “Carter she’s hot, how the hell did you land this one?”
“Thank you,” Nina laughs nervously, looking surprised and relieved. “Carter speaks very highly of you, I’m glad to finally meet you.”
Bree laughs, patting Nina’s thin arm, “You don’t have to lie for him honey, we all know I’m the family screw up.”
My sisters both turn up, one on each side of Bree.
“Our family has twin screw-ups,” Maddie grins as they take the remaining two seats.
Carter notices us now as Bree takes her seat again. He reaches around her to shake my hand. “Sam, what’s up, how’ve you been?”
“Good,” I smile clapping him on the shoulder. “Good to see you, man.”
I leave my arm casually draped over Bree’s chair as I catch up with Carter. We get put at the same table together every year. Unlike Bree, her brother is at most of the social events I come to. None of us have the guts that Bree does to stand up to our overbearing mothers.
We get through dinner without Bree embarrassing herself or her mother. The food-as disappointing as she has said it would be-seems to sober her up. She talks and laughs with Maddie and Elle like she’s their third sister. I watch her silently, taking in little details that I want to remember. Things I don’t see when it’s just the two of us.
Nina is quiet and shy, but Bree makes a point to keep her involved in the conversation and make her feel comfortable. She is sure to get every detail from Carter on his classes and grades, telling him how proud of him she is that he got into the graduate program he applied for. When she asks people questions, she listens intently to the answer. She shows genuine concern and interest in everyone around her. She can make anyone laugh. She’s kind to the waiters. She puts everyone around her at ease.
I’ve spent so much alone time with her, so that’s the only side I see. But I play with the thought of her keeping me company at more of these galas. I pretend she could be mine, if only in my head.
When the band kicks up and the waiters begin passing out dessert, Carter lea
ds Nina to the dance floor and the twins head to the bar, leaving us alone together. Bree turns to me, propping an elbow onto the table and resting her chin in her palm. She holds my gaze, a small grin on her mouth. I mimic her posture, the movement bringing our faces closer together.
“Sam,” She says, her eyes narrowing slightly. The amused grin is still dancing on her lips.
“Aubree,” I counter, tilting my head to the side.
“Can I ask you a question?” She tilts her head, too.
“No,” I grin, parroting her words from the day we met. “If there’s something you want, just say it.”
“Okay,” she smirks looking back up, “I want your cake.”
I laugh when I realize the waiters placed a giant piece of chocolate cake in front of me and gave her an equally large piece of cheesecake.
“Tell you what,” I say swapping the plates. “I’ll trade you.”
She grins broadly as I set the cake down in front of her, picking up her fork and taking a huge bite. She closes her eyes, humming in satisfaction. I smile and take a bite of my cheesecake. I never really liked cheesecake very much.
She gets a smudge of chocolate on her chin and I laugh, setting down my fork. “Come here you overgrown child, you have chocolate on your face.”
She turns to face me, unfazed, “Get it off then.”
I reach up and hold her chin still, running my thumb under her bottom lip. My hand lingers there for a moment longer than it should. She inhales a deep breath, smiling.
“You smell like trees.”
I pull my hand away and laugh, utterly confused. “What?”
“You smell like trees,” She laughs. “Like wet pine trees.”
I chuckle when I realize what she’s talking about. “That’s my cologne. It’s actually my favorite.”
“Because you like to smell like trees?” She grins, propping her chin up on her hand.
A Sea of Lies Page 9