Free Best Dressed Lie (The Lies Series) by A.J. Carella

hadn’t actually spoken out loud. He was just about to repeat himself when his mother spoke.
    “I really hope this is some kind of sick joke.”
    He shook his head. “No, it’s true. We’re getting married.”
    His father still hadn’t said a word.
    “Dad?”
    “Is she pregnant?” he asked him, not even looking at Carrie.
    Carrie threaded her arm through his. “No , I’m not pregnant.”
    “If she’s not pregnant , what’s the rush, for god’s sake?” his mom snapped. “Can’t you at least wait until Jamie’s had a few months to grieve before you hit her with this?”
     
    ***
     
    She’d had enough of this. It was about time someone told Jake’s parents how it was going to be and it clearly wasn’t going to be him. “Why should we wait? Ted’s dead and buried.”
    Jake parents looked at her with distaste. “Jake, I think you should take some time. Make sure this is the right thing to do ,” his mom said desperately. “And I know you don’t want to hurt your sister. Hearing new like this right now will be devastating for her.”
    That was the last straw. “For god’s sake! He was only marrying her for her money anyway. It wasn’t the love of the fucking century or anything!” She couldn’t help herself. “Probably did her a favor him getting himself killed!”
    They all turned then at the sound of a loud gasp coming from the doorway. Jamie stood there with her hands raised to her mouth, her eyes wide in shock.
    “How dare you say such a thing! It’s not true!” she screamed at Carrie, hands now clenched into fists at her side.
    “It is true, ” Carrie sneered. “His whole family is broke. You were going to be the golden goose that got them out of the mess they’re in.”
    Jamie launched herself across the room at her then, hands grabbing for her hair and face. Reacting quickly, Jake grabbed Jamie by the waist and held her, arms and legs flailing, preventing her from reaching her target.
    “Calm down, she didn’t mean it ,” he said to her, trying to keep her under control, glaring across the room at Carrie.
    “Take your fiancée and get her out of here. Now,” barked his father and, for once, Jake agreed with him. Gingerly letting go of Jamie, pausing to make sure she wasn’t about to fly at Carrie again, he took Carrie by the arm and pulled her out of the room.
    “What the fuck do you think you were doing in there?” he hissed as he pulled her out the front door and to the car.
    “Shit. Sorry. They just got under my skin, treating me like I’m dirt and going on about Saint Jamie.” She slammed the passenger door shut, turning to him. “It’s not fair. They can’t even be happy for us.”
    Jake didn’t say a word as he started the car. He wasn’t even happy for himself.

Chapter Thirteen
     
    She was struggling to hold the tears back as she drove. It couldn’t be true could it? She had to find out. She couldn’t go and ask Ted’s parents. They were grieving, too. It would be unforgiveable to go storming in there asking intensely private questions, especially if everything Carrie had said was a lie. No, she had to go back to the horse’s mouth and see Carrie, but this time alone.
    She’d had to wait all day until Jake had come home, wanting to make sure he was out of the way before she left, and then she’d had to sneak out without being seen. These days , her parents hardly let her out of their sight and they would undoubtedly question where she was going if they saw her.
    Pulling up and parking out back, Jamie checked her face in the mirror in her car. The tears had dried, leaving her face blotchy and her eyes puffy. At least I’m not crying any more, she thought to herself as she climbed the stairs and knocked on Carrie’s apartment door. She’d already checked at the diner and been told that today was her day off so she was hoping to catch her at home.
    She was rewarded by the sound of locks turning and the door being opened.
    “Oh. It’s you.”
    “Can I