The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

“Get on with it then. Why are you here?” I faced them, squaring my shoulders as I braced myself for whatever they had to say.

Contrary to popular belief I actually cared what my parents thought of me. I loved them, and we’d never had any major fights like most kids with their pa

rents. Disagreements, on the other hand… Well, we had lots of those.

“You didn’t come home for the Fourth of July,” my dad stated, giving me that intense look he’d always given me when I was a child that told me I was in big trouble. Only I was an adult, and I didn’t have to go home or be made to do anything I didn’t want to do.

“You mean to tell me that you guys flew all the way out here because I didn’t come home for the holiday?” I looked between the two of them. “Are y’all fucking nuts?”

My mom snickered. “Well, we are that. But we’re also your parents, and we’re concerned.”

“I didn’t come home last year,” I countered, my grip on the counter tightening even more. “I had a party here, both times,” I added. “It’s not like I sulked around the house and did nothing all day.”

“Is that what you do normally?” my dad asked. “Sulk?”

I wanted to laugh, but his serious tone and the worry in his eyes held me back.

“No, of course not,” I retorted. “It’s a five-to-six-hour flight from here to home. It’s just kind of a pain in the ass.” I shrugged, letting go of the counter and stretching my fingers. “Speaking of flights, what did you guys do? Hop on a plane in the middle of the night all because I didn’t come home?”

My dad grinned at this. “The perks of being a rock star—we have a jet waiting at all times. We flew in last night and stayed up at the place in L.A. before driving down this morning.”

“Of course,” I exhaled, not surprised at all.

“It’s time to get serious, son.” My dad’s icy gray eyes bored into me. “What the hell is going on with you?”

“Nothing.” It was the same response I’d been giving for two years.

“It’s not nothing,” he countered with a rough shake of his head. “The moment your diploma was in your hand you couldn’t get away from us fast enough. You can spew bullshit about your surfing as much as you want, but it’s more than that. We’re not stupid. What did we do that was so incredibly horrible that we drove our only son away from us?”

I winced and shook my head back and forth. “You guys did nothing wrong. It was my own issues that drove me away.”

My mom opened her mouth to speak, but I raised a hand to silence her. “I can’t talk about this right now. I really have to go. I have a meeting I can’t be late for. We’ll…uh…we’ll talk about this later. M’kay?”

My mom sighed, and her shoulders sagged slightly. “Okay. Sure.” Raising her eyes—the same light blue that stared back at me in the mirror every day—to mine, she said, “But we are talking about this later. We’ve let you off the hook for two years. No more, Liam. I mean it.”

“Yes, Ma.” I walked toward her and pulled her into my arms, hugging her tight. “Love you.” I kissed the top of her blond head.

“See ya later, Dad.” I hugged him, too, before heading out to my car.

I really did have a meeting. But not for five more hours. Oh well.

What they didn’t know wouldn’t kill them, and hopefully that would give me enough time to compose myself after their surprise attack.

Ari

When I came downstairs ready to leave for work, I was surprised to find Liam’s parents sitting in the family room watching TV but no Liam to be seen anywhere.

“Uh…” I started into the room. “I’m getting ready to leave for work. Did Liam leave?”

“He said he had a meeting,” his dad responded with a shrug.

“Oh, okay. Well, I guess I’ll see you guys later then,” I said awkwardly, backing out of the room.

“Oh.” His mom popped up from the couch suddenly. “How rude of us. We never properly introduced ourselves. I’m Remy.” She hurried over to me and opened her arms for a hug.

“Ari,” I said unnecessarily, accepting her hug.

“Mathias.” Liam’s dad waved from the couch.