The Lie(74)

My mother lets out a laugh, obviously loving this. “Is that true?”

“My flat is very drafty,” I explain, busying myself with the tea.

“And he hires this woman to walk him that fusses over him just as much. I’m pretty sure she carries a row of sausages in her purse, just like an old cartoon. Believe me, Brigs may act like he hates that dog, but Winter is spoiled like you wouldn’t believe.”

“What’s this?” My father comes in the room, sitting beside my mother.

“Nothing,” I say quickly.

“Oh, Donald, it turns out Brigs is just as bad with Winter as Lachlan is with Lionel,” she says.

“Another nut,” he mutters under his breath.

Thankfully the conversation quickly changes to all things Natasha. With her accent and her life in LA, France, and London, it’s a pretty easy segue, an even better icebreaker than “Where did you guys meet?” I was pretty vague with my mother on the phone when I called to tell her that I had met someone and wanted to bring her up to Edinburgh.

While Natasha talks about LA and film and Hollywood, I can’t help but watch her with pride. Just the way she handles herself, she’s so different from the girl I met last month, the one with fear in her eyes and the weight of the world on her shoulders. She’s charming my parents just as she charms everyone, that glow of hers making everyone around her shine. If she’s nervous at all, she doesn’t show it, and when she’s tired of talking, she deftly turns the conversation to my parents, asking a load of questions.

Before I know it, the door opens and I turn in my seat to see Lachlan and Kayla stepping in.

“You made it,” my mother calls out, getting up and going over to them. She takes off their jackets as she hangs them up.

“Brigs,” Lachlan says with a nod, his eyes immediately seeking out Natasha. Kayla does the same.

“Lachlan, Kayla,” I say to them, gesturing toward Natasha who I can tell is nervous, sitting stiffly. “This is Natasha. Natasha, this is my brother Lachlan and his fiancé Kayla.”

Natasha gets up and shakes Lachlan’s hand first, smiling genuinely at him.

“Nice to meet you,” she says, though there’s a flicker of recognition in her eyes. I guess she’s recognizing his face from all those rugby calendars. When she moves on to shake Kayla’s hand though, who immediately brightens when she hears her American accent and compliments Natasha on her orchid pink blouse, Lachlan is watching Natasha curiously. What I saw in her was just a flicker, but Lachlan is studying her with a full-on frown, as if they’ve met before.

Then again, Lachlan looks at everyone that way.

“So you’re American,” Kayla says excitedly. “I had no idea.”

“Well, Brigs hasn’t really told us much about you,” Lachlan says, an edge to his voice. He glances at me, frowning, and I just shrug, not really sure what he’s getting at.

“That’s true.” Natasha clears her throat. “I’m a bit too awkward to be shown around in public.” She adds a dry laugh, trying to make everyone feel comfortable.

“Are you just going to stand there or what?” my dad says. “Sit down before your mother starts rearranging furniture to suit you.”

Lachlan and Kayla take the other couch while my mum starts pouring them some tea. Lachlan, though, is still watching Natasha with a peculiar look on his face.

“What is it?” I ask him, getting annoyed.

Everyone looks at us.

Lachlan raises his brow. “Nothing, I’m sure.” He nods at Natasha. “Have we met before?”

She frowns, thinking. “I don’t think so.”

“Ever been to Scotland before?” Kayla asks her. “I haven’t even been down to London yet.”

“Well, if Brigs invited us,” my mum adds, “I’m sure we could all go.”

I give her a placating smile. “When my life settles down a bit, I’ll make sure everyone comes by.”

Natasha looks back to Kayla. “Uh, actually, I met Brigs in Edinburgh. A long time ago.”

“How long have you been in the UK?” Kayla asks, which then gets Natasha explaining about her past yet again. But the way she talks with Kayla, I can tell it’s not a chore. In fact, with some silly pride, I can tell that the two of them will soon be fast friends. Both of those American girls swept away by the McGregor men. They have a lot more in common than they think, not to mention their easygoing, witty and slightly quirky personalities.

Meanwhile, Lachlan keeps glancing between Natasha and me, deep in thought.

“And when did you and Brigs officially meet?” Lachlan says to her.

She glances at me. “Four years ago.” He raises his brows. “I came up here, working at a short film festival during the summer and he came in to apply to be a sponsor. Then I ran into him at school this year and I remembered him.”

Such the truth. Such a lie.

“So you’re his student?” my mother squeaks, already having scandal written all over her delicate face.

“No,” I say quickly. I clear my throat. “She’s not in any of my classes.”

“Pretty sure that’s a dicey area though, son,” my dad says.

Right. All this time we were worried about our real past together, we never thought to worry about the real present.