* * * *

Things Liars Hide

a #ThreeLittleLies novella

Copyright © 2015 by Sara Ney

All rights reserved.

This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the authors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Title Page

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Author

I trail in the wake behind my brother and his new girlfriend, the three of us paddling in kayaks across the surface of Lake Walton, slicing our oars through the dark water at a leisurely pace.

The day is calm, sunny, and perfect.

I adjust the brim of my straw sunhat so it completely covers my face, and push the sunglasses up higher on the bridge of my nose before maneuvering my kayak closer to my brother, Cal, and his girlfriend, Greyson.

They’re ahead of me, rowing side by side in companionable silence, and I trail after them, in no hurry to partake in their love-fest.

I try to avert my eyes when they steal glances at each other every couple feet as they paddle, trying to be sly about it but failing miserably. They cannot keep their eyes off each other, and if I weren’t so damn happy for my brother, I would be completely repulsed.

Nonetheless, as a single female, I feel it’s my duty to give an eye-roll towards the cloudless blue sky.

“Babe, let’s check out that sand bar over there.” My brother’s low voice carries back to me. He twists his lean torso and looks back at me. “Tab, we’re gonna stop at the island.”

“Hey, I know that place!” Greyson exclaims, excited. “You showed me a picture of it once.”

Cal grins at her, obviously pleased that she remembered, and we all paddle deftly towards the little island. It’s actually more of a peninsula jutting out into the water, with a white sand beach, picnic tables, and a campfire site.

As we get closer, I can see a small smokestack where the last campers had their bonfire, the faint, smoldering gray cloud rising into the canopy of trees from the dying embers.

My brother continues talking. “I’ve always wanted to stop, but stopping by myself always just seemed depressing.”

Greyson blushes at him prettily. “Well, now you never have to.”

My brother’s steely gaze lands on the cleavage appearing from beneath the zipper of her life jacket. “Kayaking with you is almost worse.”

Her large hazel eyes widen. “What! Why?”

“Because I just keep wanting to lean over and pull you into the water. Get us both wet.”

Gross. I want to splash them both with my paddle. “Alright, you two, stop. Just stop. You’re making me sick.”

My brother, who I never in a million years thought would so freely give PDA, leans his muscular, tattooed arm out to draw Greyson’s kayak closer, and he bends over the side of his, puckering his lips.

Their eyes close behind their sunglasses and their lips meet, pressing together over the water.

They both sigh.

Greyson lays her paddle across her red kayak, the delicate fingers of one hand reaching up to gently stroke the new gash under my brother’s left eye. “I have to put some Neosporin on this.” Her voice drifts over the water, soothing. “I’m worried.”

My annoying younger brother nods into her palm like a puppy dog. “Okay.”

What the…

Seriously, could this get any worse?

“I brought us a picnic.”

Never mind. It just did.

Greyson gasps in delight. “Oh my god, Cal, sweetie—could you be any more perfect?”

“I don’t know. Could you?”

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

They’re disgusting. Just disgusting.

Greyson sighs.

I sigh too, and with a jealous little huff, keep paddling.

Our kayaks hit the sandy bank of the island, and Cal hops out first, dragging Greyson’s up onto the shore with ease, and holding his hand out to steady her while she steps out onto the beach.

I hold back a groan when his hands go around her waist and their lips meet for another quick kiss. He gives her butt a swat when she starts up the bank towards the campsite.

My brother turns, wading in a few feet, and grabs the rope at the front of mine, pulling my kayak alongside Greyson’s and extending his hand to me the same way he did for her. Only instead of graciously accepting his help, I narrow my eyes at him from my spot on the water.

“What’s the look for?” he asks, glaring down at me.

“I don’t trust you,” I say.

Cal snorts. “What—you think I’m going to dump you in the water? What are we, thirteen?”

“Oh please. I know how you operate. Don’t tell me you aren’t thinking about it right now,” I tease, but extend my hand.

He takes it, pulling me up so I can step out. When my feet are on the shore, I’m ankle deep in water and my brother crosses his arms indignantly.

“You give me no credit at all. I would never shove you in the water.”

Now I’m laughing as I stand. “You are such a liar.”

“What kind of an asshole shoves his sister in the water with his girlfriend watching?” He leans over as he bends to steady my kayak, busying himself by pulling them onto the shore farther so they don’t float away. “You know—” he looks slyly over at me “—you’re right. I did think about shoving your ass in the water.”

“I knew it!” My foot gives a kick, and I splash him.

“Yeah, well, you deserve it. I still owe you from the time you laid under my bed hiding while I changed my clothes, then scared the shit out of me once I turned off the lights and climbed into bed.”

I throw my hands up, exasperated. “That was three years ago!”

“Whatever—you’re sick. Watch your back, that’s all I’m saying.”

“Shut up,” I scoff, glancing up to where Greyson is walking around the picnic area, alone, while we bicker like children. “And why are you bothering me when your girlfriend is waiting? I love you to death, but the two of you make me sick.”