Burning Your Lies (King and Queen Duet #2)

15

Huxley

“What do you think of this one?”

The brown tie my mum holds up looks exactly like the last three. She tuts at me when I stare at her blankly.

“Men. You’re all the same. This one clearly has an earthy undertone to it. We’ll wait to see which one Savannah prefers.”

I lean against the tie counter.

“You know she doesn’t care, right? She’s only doing this for you.”

Her smile is soft and warm.

“I know. It’s how I know you married well. She’s kind-hearted and a wonderful person. It’s also why she deserves to have a proper wedding. She’s had a tough upbringing. So you make sure you give her a future filled with security and family. Be gentle with her. Love her in ways she hasn’t had the privilege of experiencing. Smile and laugh with her.”

“I will.”

My mum stares at me with a proud look.

“You’ve always been a man of few words, and that’s okay. We’ve raised you and understand your methods of expressing love. But make sure you tell her. It’s important to say it sometimes.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“I know how to be in a relationship.”

“Do you? You skipped all the dating milestones, such as bringing her home to meet your family.”

Her eyes narrow at the statement.

“Did you even propose? You never bought her a ring. You just dragged her to court and changed her name.”

“We aren’t that type of couple. We like to keep things private. It was Savannah who didn’t want a wedding. She has no family and only two friends. A wedding would only showcase that. And who cares about a ring? Marriage is more than that.”

She shakes her head.

“A ring is more than just jewellery. Do you think marriage is going to be easy? News flash, it’s not. Even when you love that person, it’s hard. There are times you’re going to wonder if it is worth it. You’re going to storm out the house with no desire to go home. And then that piece of metal reminds you why you married them. It’s a symbol of the promise you made.”

“Why the serious faces?”

Hadley asks when they join us.

“I was just telling your brother that there are differences in these ties.”

Savannah couldn’t care less about the ties, but she inspects them like her world would crumble if she picks the wrong one. She goes back and forth with my mum as if it’s the most interesting thing in the world. She listens intently when my mum gives her opinion. And in the end, she goes with the one my mum likes the most.

Pride swells in me. My mum is right. I married well. I married someone I am not worthy of. Exiting the store, I take her left hand and pay no mind to her bewildered gaze at my public display of affection.

“You do know I love you, right?”

I whisper when my mum and sister are a few steps from us.

She squeezes my hand. “I know.”

Mia flops onto the sofa.

“Are you really not having a maid of honour or bridesmaid?”

Savannah twists her hair into a topknot and groans.

“We’ve had this discussion already. No. Because I am already married. We’re just doing this for Hux’s family. It’s why I’m letting Isabella choose everything. We have bigger things to be planning than a wedding.”

Jordan gulps half his beer in one go.

“Any more updates?”

She slides the picture of Rowan onto the table.

“We’ve officially introduced the Jack of Clubs into the game.”

The friends share an add look.

“My wife has allocated everyone a new personality,”

I dryly remark.

Her mouth hangs open.

“Oh, come on! Admit it, his one is smart. He’s a jack of all trades type of guy, and he owns a bunch of fancy clubs. You know it’s a great idea.”

I cannot control the smile at her excitement.

“Sure thing, sweetheart.”

Pulling myself off the wall, I join them around the table.

“Now that we’ve met him, things can start moving. How are you guys getting on?”

Jordan scowls.

“He’s dedicated to the lies, I’ll give him that. He sent a postcard to Elliot’s family from Bali. But I’m working on it.”

“Get me that postcard,”

I order.

“It might help us track this fake Elliot down.”

Jordan nods before I move onto Mia.

“How about you?”

“Me and Scottie are practically BFFs. We meet up before our hit class every week and sometimes grab some food afterwards. She’s opening up but has not mentioned her family at all.”

Savannah nods her head in approval.

“Good. Let her bring Caitlyn up.”

Mia sighs.

“She’s very private. What if she never opens up about her sister’s disappearance?”

“We need to give her a reason to open up to you. Maybe we can say your brother was murdered or something.”

I rub my face and let out a groan.

“No. That won’t be believable.”

“But—”

I cut Savannah off.

“This family knows Xavier is lying; they just don’t have any proof. That means they are going to suspect anyone and everyone. The chances of Scottie meeting someone at a gym class, who befriends her and whose brother was murdered, are next to none. All she will think is that Xavier paid someone in his empire to track her down to find out what she knows.“ I shake my head.

“The first rule in this game is we don’t change more than we need to. Every single detail you change has a domino effect on everything else. Then, before you know it, you’re chasing your tail, trying to remember all the lies you’ve told.”

Savannah looks less than impressed.

“So, what do we do?”

“We stick to the plan.”

I turn to Mia.

“Just be yourself, because she will eventually open up. We have time. We’re playing the long game.”

“The long game depends on what happens in court. If a judge throws my case out, the plan falls apart.”

“Then we appeal,”

I argue.

“We’re talking months before you have to stand in a courtroom. We have to remain patient and focused.”

“Particularly on her.”

Savannah points at the picture of Brynn.

“Xavier hasn’t told Brynn anything about me and him. He believes he is in love with her. We all know what that means.”

Mia picks up the picture and frowns.

“She’s not making it out of that house alive.”

“Nobody is dying,” I vow.

“We need to create conflict between the two of them,”

Savannah decides.

“And I know exactly how do to that.”