Simple Lies

by Amanda Bennett

  “Because I’ve never heard that one before.” She snickered.

  And that’s when I started to get pissed. I wanted to stand up and yell at her, to tell her that she was the one who lied from the beginning, but I couldn’t. That wasn’t who I was. So I stood and started to walk away.

  “Are you seriously just going to walk away?” She shouted over her shoulder.

  I stopped mid-stride, and turned to look at her. “There isn’t anything I can say or do that will put you at ease. Do you think this is the situation I thought I would be walking in on? This whole situation is fucked, and I’m done. I’m going to fulfill my family obligation, and then I’m on the next flight out of here.” I could tell that there was something else she wanted to say, but I honestly wasn’t interested anymore, because there was only one thing I wanted to hear come out of her mouth, and I knew for a fact that it wasn’t going to happen.

  I rinsed my mug out in the sink, and then made my way back upstairs to shower and get dressed for the day. I wasn’t exactly sure what the plan was, but if I knew my uncle as well as I thought I did, some sort of sport would be involved. That was my uncle’s way of bonding. I was in and out of the shower in less than twenty minutes and as I was walking back to my room, I ran into Ryan in the hallway.

  “How ya feeling this morning, cuz?” I laughed.

  He glanced up at me with a scowl plastered across his face. “Shut up, dick. Why’d you let me drink so much?”

  “Oh, hell no! You don’t get to blame me for you drinking half of the bar. You did that shit all on your own.”

  “I know, I know. Hey have you seen Hadley at all? I checked the guest room next to mine, but she wasn’t in there.”

  “I think she slept out in the guesthouse with PJ. I gotta get dressed. I’ll see ya downstairs in just a bit.”

  “Cool.”

  Once I was securely in my room, I let out an aggravated sigh. As much as I loved my cousin because he was family, I hated how irritated he made me. I was amazed that he cared enough to even ask about Hadley, but I was pretty sure it was just for show. I dressed quickly in a long sleeved polo shirt, and a pair of beige cargo pants, and then rushed downstairs to run interference for Hadley just in case my aunt was already awake.

  When I walked into the kitchen, I saw Hadley and PJ sitting at the breakfast bar chatting with someone, but I hadn’t seen who just yet. As I turned the corner, I was knocked back about fifty feet as I saw who it was. She looked up at me with a bright, wide-eyed smile, and my heart began to race. It had been over five years since I had seen her, and it still wasn’t long enough to get over the heartache she had caused me. I walked past her, trying not to make eye contact as I made my way over to the coffee pot. I nodded a hello to Hadley and PJ, then made my way out the back doors and down to the beach.

  I wanted to run or punch something. Yeah, punching something sounded like a great idea. What the hell was she doing here? I glanced back at the house about every five seconds to make sure she wasn’t about to follow me outside. I literally didn’t even know what I would say to her. I mean honestly, what was left to say? I downed the remainder of my coffee, and chucked the cup against a palm tree in the yard. I was completely infuriated and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. I pushed my hands back through my hair in anger, wanting to pull out every last strand, and then I heard footsteps coming up behind me.

  “Len, I swear if that’s you, you should walk away…NOW!” I growled, but there was no answer. I closed my eyes as I shook my head in disbelief in what I was about to do. I chanced it, and glanced over my shoulder. That’s when I saw Hadley standing there with her arms folded tightly over her chest, a strong look of concern displayed on her face. “Sorry.”

  “Who is she?” She whispered.

  I knew she was just trying to comfort me, but it was hard to decipher what her motives were. “She’s my ex.” I stood there kicking the sand below my feet as she stood there…staring at me.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Suddenly she looked extremely uncomfortable, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was jealous.

  “Not much to tell. We were together, and now we’re not. It’s that simple.” I glanced up at her as I spoke.

  “Nothing is ever just simple.” She was eluding to us, I knew she was, but I just couldn’t go there right now.

  “Yes Hadley, it is that simple.” I turned back towards the ocean, taking in a deep cleansing breath. “Why do you care?”

  “Why wouldn’t I care?”

  The whole answering a question with a question was really starting to grate on my nerves. “Because we are nothing. There’s no reason for you to care…not any more.” I shuddered under her touch as she slid her hand around my waist.

  “I’m sorry, Declan. I know it doesn’t mean much, but I needed you to hear it anyway.”

  I thought she had said her peace, and that she would soon walk away from me, but she didn’t. Her arm stayed wrapped around my waist and her hand sat on my hip. It was an innocent gesture to most, but between me and her…it was far more. I could feel her trying to comfort me without Ryan thinking it was something more, but it hurt. As much as I wanted to be happy for the both of them, I just couldn’t. I knew I was being petty, but she was what I wanted, and if I had to fight my own cousin for her…then that’s what I was going to do.

  “She’s my ex-wife.” I didn’t know what came over me, but suddenly I needed her to know the truth, even if it pushed her away from me.

  “I see.” She replied.

  “That’s it?” I laughed.

  “What am I supposed to say?” She turned and looked up at me, and I was instantly lost in her beautiful blue eyes.

  “Don’t you want to know more?”

  “Of course I do, but it’s not really my place, or my business. If you want to tell me, I’ll listen.”

  “We got married when we were eighteen. I thought she was the love of my life…the one. Turns out, I make a better doormat than a husband. She walked all over me. She used me, and then when she was done with me…she cheated on me. Technically we were only married for two months, but we had been high school sweethearts, and had been together since freshman year.”

  “Oh my gosh, seriously? So you never dated anyone else…like…ever?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her shock. Man she really did think I was a player. “We broke up for a brief time our junior year, and I dated a girl from the neighborhood for about a month, but we ended up back together. I was young and dumb, what can I say.” I shrugged.

  “I guess I just assumed…”

  “That I slept with anyone and everyone?” Her face turned a bright shade of red as she looked away from me, embarrassed. “It’s okay, I know my reputation.” I smiled.

  “That’s not what I meant, Declan.”

  “Isn’t it?” I paused, waiting to see if she was going to walk away from me now, but surprisingly, she didn’t budge. “Anyway, I haven’t seen her in five years. Once the divorce was final, I put all my time and energy into my fighting. I trained hard and often, and before I knew it, I was getting paid to fight. Once I made it into the UFC, she tried to get a hold of me repeatedly, but I’m not a dumbass. I knew exactly why she wanted me back.”

  Hadley pulled me against her side in a half-attempt hug, and I smiled down at her as she spoke. “I’m sorry, Declan. Nobody deserves that.”

  “Thanks.” We were both staring into one another’s eyes when we heard Ryan’s voice coming up behind us. Hadley quickly dropped her hand from my waist, and its absence left me with an empty feeling.

  “Hey, what’s going on out here? Did you see who is here, cuz?”

  “Yeah. Nice one. You plan that one out?”

  Ryan held his hands up in mock surrender. “I swear, it wasn’t me.”

  I shook my head. “Whatever. I’ll leave you two alone.” I started to walk back to the house when Ryan shouted my name.

  “DEC? Golf in twenty.”

  I
nodded, and threw my hand up in recognition as I walked into the lion’s den. That’s when I came face to face with the devil herself. She stood there, in all her plastic glory just waiting for me to say something. Unfortunately for her, she would be waiting a long time. I walked past her without a second glance, and for the first time…I felt great.

  TWENTY-ONE

  Hadley

  My stomach felt like I had swallowed a boulder as the guys got ready to leave to go golfing. Without even asking me, Ryan was leaving me all alone with his mom, and Declan’s ex-wife, who for all intents purposes looked like she was going to stare a hole right through me. When PJ came walking into the main house about an hour after she ran and hid from the drama, I was relieved that I had at least one person in the house that liked me. She glanced around the kitchen at the three of us standing there, not saying a word, and then let out a small giggle.

  “Well, I have some errands to go run. Hads, you wanna come with me?” She was smiling a wicked smile, and I knew she wanted out of this house just as much as I did.

  Without hesitation I blurted out, “Yes. Let’s get going. We will be back in a few hours, ladies.”

  “Hadley, please make sure you girls are back in time for dinner. We will be eating promptly at seven, and I’m sure you’ll need time to get ready.” Ryan’s mother’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard, and it instantly made me want to tell her off.

  Instead I turned and smiled my fakest smile, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Tate. We will make sure we’re back in plenty of time.” I spoke through gritted teeth in an effort to not piss her off, or dislike me more than she already did.

  As PJ and I turned to walk out of the kitchen, I couldn’t help but notice how sweet and welcoming she was being to Declan’s ex-wife. What was it about me that made that woman hate me so much? All I have ever done is love her son completely and unconditionally, even when he was trying to figure out what he wanted. If anything, I was the one she should be treating amazingly, not her asshole son. PJ tugged on my arm, and I instantly turned my attention away from the two of them and onto PJ.

  “Why do you let her bother you so much?”

  “I just don’t understand. What did I do to her?” I stopped as we reached the driveway in absolute confusion. “Um, do we have a car to drive? Looks like all the guys took them.”

  “We’re walking.” She laughed.

  “Walking? Walking where exactly?”

  “Just trust me. You need this.”

  I was hesitant to follow her, but did so anyway. Honestly, there wasn’t much that we could be doing that was that bad, given the fact that we were pretty much surrounded by the rich and the shameless. We started making our way off of the Tate’s property, and a tiny part of me finally started to feel free. As much as I loved Ryan, his parents were a whole other story.

  “Whatcha thinking about over there?” PJ’s voice rattled me a little, and I almost tripped on one of the rocks that we were walking on. PJ’s hand clutched my arm, holding me up, and practically saving me from falling face first. Oh the hell I would’ve paid for not looking just so for the dinner tonight.

  “Man, that was close. PJ, do you think I’m making the right choice?” I was now looking down at my feet as we walked closer to the ocean, so I wouldn’t fall again.

  “Do you want my honest opinion?” I gave her a pointed stare, and she shook her head in laughter. “I don’t see it working out.”

  I stopped walking, and turned to look at PJ as my heart fell to the floor. I was in shock. I mean, I knew that PJ and Ryan haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I honestly didn’t think she thought so little of my relationship with him. “I’m confused. Are you serious right now?”

  “Look, Hads there is something I need to tell you, and if I don’t tell you now, I will hate myself forever.”

  PJ looked more serious than I had ever seen her be before. We walked a few more feet through a small forest, given the amount of trees on this person’s property, but before I knew it, we were on the beach. PJ took a few more steps, and then plopped her ass down on the sand. I wasn’t sure what this conversation was going to entail, but I knew if PJ was sitting down for it, then so should I. I took a seat right next to her and began aimlessly playing with the sand around my now bare feet.

  “Hadley, when you introduced me to Ryan…that wasn’t the first time I had met him.”

  I looked over at PJ with brows pulled together in confusion. “What do you mean?”

  “Well…Ryan and I…kind of…dated.” PJ quickly turned towards me and grabbed my hand, pulling them into her lap so I couldn’t get away. “Listen, it’s not what you think. It’s not like we were in love with one another or anything like that. We just hung out for a bit, and then hooked up a few times. It was before I even met you.”

  “How? Why? What?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How could the two of them have possibly met before she met me? I mean, we met each other during freshman orientation, and then I met Ryan like two days after school started. “Please explain.”

  “Well, I came into town about a year before I actually moved here. I took my campus tour to make sure this was where I wanted to go, and I happened to run into him one day when I was on campus. We flirted a bit, and then we exchanged numbers. Please tell me you don’t hate me, Hads.”

  I could see the genuine concern for me in her eyes, but for some reason…I wasn’t mad. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was feeling, but relief was one. As much as I had been torturing myself over the whole Declan situation, and feeling guilty about it, Ryan was keeping a secret from me as well. I’m not saying that it was okay that he was lying to me, or that she was, but honestly…I was fine.

  A small smile slowly spread across my mouth, and PJ sat back in shock. “I’m not mad, PJ. It was before we met, like you said. I mean, it does suck that you felt the need to lie to me about it, but it is what it is. I knew there was something though, with the way you two bicker and hate one another.” I laughed.

  “I really am sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but that’s not why I said what I said. Ryan has a history here. He’s a playboy, always has been. I just don’t think his intentions are pure with you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “PJ, I appreciate your concern, I do, but I think he’s changed. I honestly believe he really wants to spend the rest of his life with me. I know it sounds crazy, but I want to spend the rest of my life with him too.”

  I could see the wheels spinning in PJ’s head about a million miles a minute, and I knew nothing good would be coming out of her mouth after what I just said. PJ was the only one who knew the whole situation with Declan, and although she never once judged me for it, I had a feeling she would rather see me end up with him. I pulled out my phone and glanced at the time before standing up and wiping the sand off of the ass of my jeans. It was definitely starting to get cooler, and I wasn’t dressed appropriately for the weather today.

  “We should probably get going back to the house. I really don’t want to hear the wrath of shit that Ryan’s mother would give me for being late.” I turned to start walking in the direction that I thought Ryan’s house was, but suddenly I was completely turned around. “Where the hell are we by the way?”

  PJ laughed. “We’re right by Declan’s mom’s house.”

  My jaw hit the floor at the mention of Declan’s mom. I had no idea that she lived so close to her sister, and I found it rather odd that she hadn’t come to our engagement party the night before. That’s when it struck me, I knew practically nothing about Declan and his life. I knew I wanted it that way in the beginning, because of the nature of our relationship, but now that I was going to be related to him in a sense, I figured maybe we should actually get to know one another…if he was up for it.

  When we got back to the house, the guys were nowhere to be found. The cars still weren’t in the driveway, and I was dreading walking inside without the comfort of knowing that my fiancé was there to protect me from his vicious mot
her. No matter how many times he told me to just be myself, or that his parents didn’t dislike me as much as I thought, I still didn’t feel comfortable being around them.

  PJ and I decided to go around the side of the house to get ready in the guesthouse, without being detected. As we made our way around back, I felt like I was in the movie Mission Impossible. PJ and I both held up our hands like they were guns, and I sang the Mission Impossible theme song as we ducked behind corner and trees. We were almost to the house when I heard a loud boisterous laugh echoing throughout the yard. I stood up, finger gun pointed in the direction of none other than, Declan. I aimed my fingers at his face and smiled a crooked smile at him.

  “State your business here, or die.” I winked.

  “You two are hilarious. I like your gun, very imaginative.”

  I lowered my finger gun, and let out a loud laugh. “Don’t mock me. At least we’re having fun. Y’all went and played golf for crying out loud. Boring!” I said in a sing song voice. “Well, I have to get myself ready for dinner, because apparently I don’t look up to snuff today for Mrs. Van Uppity.” I twirled as I turned to head into the guesthouse, but before I could make it past the front porch, I turned back towards Declan. “Hey, why didn’t you tell me that your mom lives right next door?” I knew it was none of my business, but I was curious.

  “I don’t know, never came up.”

  I waited for him to say more, but he didn’t, so I took that as my cue to leave. Apparently, I was the only one interested in getting to know the other better. Oh well, maybe it was better this way. At least now I wouldn’t be tempted to see how nice of a guy he really was, and complicate my life even further than I already had. Well this night was about to get interesting, in more ways than one.

  TWENTY-TWO

  Declan

  I had been avoiding the inside of the house like the plague. There was no fucking way I was about to sit down to dinner with my ex-wife, and listen to her nonsense and bullshit longer than I had to. I was shocked by Hadley’s question, and I couldn’t help but wonder how she found out about my mom. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell her about myself, it was more that I didn’t want her thinking that me and my family were anything like Ryan’s. We were the furthest thing from it. My mom had to work three different jobs to even afford the house she lived in, and I rarely if ever, came home to visit. Visiting just seemed to make things more complicated.