Burning Your Lies (King and Queen Duet #2)

45

Savannah

I purse my lips to hold back my laugh, but one look at Hadley has it bursting out.

“I don’t think they’re supposed to look like that.”

Our cupcakes are too golden and the large potholes in the middle definitely show we did something wrong.

Hadley tries to think of a way we can salvage them.

“Maybe we fill it with cream and call it a victoria sponge?”

I jab my finger into one of the dry cakes.

“A sponge is supposed to be soft. These are…”

“Terrible,”

Huxley remarks as he looks over my shoulder.

“We could kill two birds with those.”

She flips her middle finger at her brother.

“They’re not that bad.”

“Yes they are,”

he argues.

“I thought I told you to stay away from the kitchen?”

he teases me.

I smile at him. Being back at his parents’ house makes everything between us feel normal again. Huxley never mentioned where he went after departing the house. All I know is, he returned home with a focused mindset.

“Let’s just find a local bakery and buy some cupcakes.”

She eyes our baking disaster one last time with a frown. “Agreed.”

Huxley dangles the car keys.

“I’ll drive. You guys might be delirious from the smoke fumes after burning those poor cakes.”

The car ride is filled with the siblings bickering back and forth. I sit back and laugh along with them, not siding with either of them. When we get out of the car, Hadley shoves him before threading her arm through mine and walking into the bakery. The smell of the baked goods makes my stomach rumble. We eye all the options, unsure which ones to nab for our movie night.

“Two triple chocolate,”

Huxley says before we’ve finished deciding.

“Since when do you like chocolate?” I ask.

His grumpy expression is pointed at Hadley.

“It’s been her favourite since she was a kid. And one is never enough.”

Hadley tries to hide the warmth that spreads through her, but her eyes soften and her lips can’t fight the small smile desperate to break through.

“I had to have the chocolate because he would always gobble the vanilla. I bet he still likes vanilla.”

I shake my head at her relentless teasing.

“I want a red velvet.”

With our treats safely inside a bag, we exit the shop, but instead of heading to the car, Huxley walks in the opposite direction.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

Hadley is the one that answers.

“It’s a mandatory tradition that we get ice cream after buying cupcakes.”

I pull my jacket tighter.

“But it’s freezing.”

“Traditions cannot be changed,”

he calls out from ahead of us.

The desert shop is smaller than the bakery. There’s barely any room for us to move our arms in the tiny booth we’re ushered into. Neither Huxley nor Hadley look at the menu as I peruse it. The options are excessive for the small establishment.

“I’ll just share with you,” I say.

Huxley arches his brow.

“Hell no. Get your own or you have nothing, but I am not sharing.”

After we place our order, Hadley tells me they used to come here almost every weekend. Living in a rural area, there aren’t many shops and restaurants about. It’s mainly her talking about their childhood, with Huxley adding a few details here and there. From the sounds of it, they had a wholesome childhood; one filled with nothing but happy memories.

“He’s always been the serious one,”

she says, digging into her sundae.

“The one that takes care of us all. You’d think he was the father, not the son.”

Her tone is mocking, but I see how grateful she is.

“You were always clumsy. Someone had to patch you up after you fell.”

“My brother, the protector. How sweet.”

“I think it is sweet,”

I add.

“I always wished I had a sibling.”

“It’s not that great,”

he grumbles.

I roll my eyes.

“Stop pretending like you don’t love her.”

He falls silent, stirring his melting ice cream with a faraway look in his eyes. Just when I think he isn’t going to say anything, he says, “Of course I do. She’s the best sister one could ask for. While she can be an absolute pain in my ass, she’s also smart, witty and courageous.”

Hadley stops eating and studies her brother in surprise. She tries to sound indifferent, but her words are coated in the same adoration.

“I think you’re speaking about yourself.”

He looks at her.

“Don’t underestimate yourself, Hadley. You say I’m the protector, but who has been taking care of them for the last fifteen years? You’re the one that stayed home and made sure they were alright. You don’t need me to protect you anymore.”

Perhaps it’s the acknowledgement that she rarely gets, but something makes her cry.

“I will always need you, Huxley. You’re my brother.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t do more. I’m sorry I wasn't better.”

The atmosphere at the table turns sombre. None of us say anything, silently eating our ice cream with a heavy weight on our chests. Without asking, I take Huxley’s hand in mine. He gives me a gentle squeeze and I understand what this visit was for.

The cupcakes didn’t make it to movie night. The box was cracked open after dinner with his whole family as we lounge around the living room. Hadley chews the cupcake, openmouthed, not forgetting to show Huxley the chewed dessert before swallowing it. Isabella tuts at her and reminds her to use her manners.

“It was a little cold for a walk around today,”

Malcolm scolds.

“If any of you catch a cold…”

Huxley waves them off.

“I wanted to take in the view. I miss home sometimes.”

Malcolm smiles at his son.

“Maybe it’s time you moved back then.”

The suggestion makes Isabella perk up.

“We have an empty room that would be perfect for a nursery.”

As always, my cheeks warm at the suggestive tone.

“I would love to settle down here. Maybe one day.”

Huxley doesn’t match my smile. He stares at the flickering fireplace.

“I like my life in London.”

His mum shakes her head.

“I have never liked that you live so far away. A mother wants to keep her children close to her.”

“Every mother must accept she has to let her children go at some point. You’ve survived without me, no?”

“Ha!”

Malcolm laughs.

“Hardly. Every day we hear her moan until you call and she finds peace in hearing your voice.”

Her eyes narrow.

“I’m sure Savannah is the only one that understands, seeing as she is the only other mother in the room.”

She’s right. If Brynn wasn’t sending me pictures and videos of Elise every day, I would have withered with worry. And her new arrangement with Xavier means I can see her more than the two nights I’m entitled to in the week.

“You’ve raised me to be a strong man,”

Huxley praises.

“You and dad have made me into who I am and for that I am grateful. And I hope the distance I’ve put between us has taught you that you are okay without me. You’ve maintained a strong home. The walls of this home have always welcomed me back with laughter and love. You don’t need me to feel those things.”

Isabella looks at her son like she knows there’s something wrong. Her eyebrows furrow together, but she says nothing. Her worried gaze lands on her husband, who is also studying his son.

It’s Hadley who breaks the tension.

“I think we should get him tested because he’s been like this all day.”

Huxley stands and offers me his hand.

“We’re off to bed. Goodnight.”

I wave at them before following him up the stairs in silence. That silence stays between us while we get ready for bed until we’re under the sheets. I trace his features. “Hux,”

I whisper.

He closes his eyes.

“It has to be done.”

My eyes leak the emotions he’s too afraid to show.

“It doesn’t have to be this way.”

His lips are on mine and he barely kisses me.

“Do you love them?”

“I love you more and I can’t ask you to do this.”

He wipes my tears and repeats his question.

“Do you love them?”

“How can I not? They’ve been nothing but the best to me. They individually mirror the parts of you I love so incredibly much. That’s why I can’t let you do this.”

Huxley ignores everything I said.

“Then make the most of tonight and tomorrow morning because after that, it won’t exist anymore.”

I hold his face.

“Please, don’t.”

“We knew what was coming when we started this game.”

“They’re your family,” I plead.

“Huxley Ray doesn’t have any family.”

He closes his eyes and, almost like a mantra, whispers, “Huxley Ray is dead.”