The second he walks outside, my sister’s eyes widen with shock. She covers her mouth with her palm, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Ava, not now,” I beg of her. “I promise I’ll tell you everything, but for now, can you cover for me while I talk to Will?”
She nods, her mouth still open. “Yeah, go. But Millie, you know if the parentals find o
ut, you’re both dead meat?”
I let out a sigh. “Yes, Ava. That’s the gray cloud forever hovering over us.”
Twenty-Four
Amelia
“You leave for like two minutes to do what exactly?”
“It’s not what you think.” I lower my voice, scanning the area to make sure no one can hear. There’s a large oak tree in the middle of our circled driveway, so tall that we’re able to stand behind it without anyone in the house seeing us. “I told you, I ran into him.”
“And who invited him over?”
“Me, but again, it’s nothing. Austin is just an old friend.”
“From memory, and please correct me if I’m wrong, wasn’t it only two months ago that he was in your bed?” His artic tone is anything but inviting. “And isn’t this the same boyfriend who broke your heart?”
The malice rolls off his tongue so effortlessly as he bares his teeth, fuming with anger. I cross my arms beneath my breasts, annoyed he’d even suggest I’d do something. If I recall, Austin was no better, so perhaps this is a man thing.
“You’re a dick,” I blurt out, unapologetic. “You don’t even tell me you’re coming, blindside me in front of my dad, of all people. Now, you’re accusing me of doing what?”
Will shakes his head, distracted by his phone buzzing in his pocket.
“I have to take this call,” he grits, unable to look at me. “As for surprising you, I’m sorry for thinking you’d want to see me.”
He takes the call, walking away from me to create distance. I don’t stand around, worried we were seen, and head back inside to find Ava pacing the foyer. The second she sees me, her eyes bulge as she grabs my arm, dragging me up the staircase toward her bedroom. Closing the door behind us, she continues to yank me into her bathroom, locking the door behind us.
“You need to talk… like now.”
“Ava…”
“From the beginning,” she demands.
My body slides against the tiled wall until I’m sitting on the cold floor. I began with the moment I stepped into his office to my drunken mishap at the club. There’s the part about Austin and his encounter with Will, and then our tandem hang gliding. When it comes time to tell her about when we first slept with each other, I hesitate, unsure how she’ll react.
“You can’t stop here,” she complains with extremely bright eyes. “How many times have you had sex?”
I bow my head, tugging at the bottom of my sweater. “I’ve lost count.”
“Oh my God!”
Grabbing her arm, I warn her to be quiet.
“Ava, I need you to listen to me.” I squeeze her hands tight, allowing my eyes to plead with hers. “You can’t tell anyone. You need to promise me this. Not Andy, not any of your friends, and especially not Mom.”
Ava nods her head in agreement.
“Millie, I promise not to tell anyone. But how can you continue to lie to Mom?”
The reality of her words hit me like a ton of bricks—the deception, the secret life I’ve been living. I have never willingly lied to Mom and for this long. Though the more I do, the more it almost becomes second nature. And I hate myself for lying to her like she means nothing to me.
“I don’t know where this is going,” I stammer, my eyes falling on the floor. “This might just be a fling, so what’s the point if it’s over soon?”