All You Have To Do Is Lie

Chapter One

I’m standing there next to Mikey trying to keep my composure and trying to stop myself from announcing to the large congregation of guests that I should be the one standing where Mikey is right now. I don’t get my chance and everything is a blur as I turn to watch Frank walk towards us. I feel my heart swell with the forbidden love that I hold for him and I can feel the tears of anguish well up in my eyes. I silently choke them back as I watch him and Mikey share a brief exchange of words and loving smiles.

There are a million thoughts, racing through my head, mainly about how wrong the whole situation is. My brain won’t function properly and I struggle to pay attention to the ceremony knowing that my cue will be anytime soon. I feel someone nudge my arm sharply and I’m startled from my thoughts as I begin searching my pockets for the two pieces of silver that will forever bind my brother and the love of my life, together. I find them and for a moment I’m tempted to ignore it, to keep them there in my hand. I shake the childish thoughts from my head and hand the rings over. My eyes meet Franks for a second and I could swear I see the same sadness and apathy in his eyes. He turns his gaze back to Mikey and I watch as they slide the rings onto each others fingers. The proceedings are finalised with the kiss and I look away awkwardly before following everyone out. I wasn’t lucky enough to avoid the pictures, being best man I had no choice but to make an appearance and watch as they kissed and posed happily.

I sat outside and listened to the music blaring from inside, feeling my head pound with every beat. I couldn’t tell if it was the volume, the stress or the fact I’d drunk way more than I should have. I felt a hand grasp my shoulder gently and I turn to look into the eyes of Frank. I turn away before he has chance to see the fresh tears that are now trying to creep down my face,


“Shouldn’t you be inside with Mikey?”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay. I know today wasn’t easy for you.”

“Whatever Frank just…go back to your husband”

“Gee, what do you want me to do? What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know Frank. I thought that I’d be able to ignore my feelings for you, I hoped they’d go away but they haven’t.”

“Gee, what are you trying to say?”

I looked up into his eyes. Sure we’d fooled around before but I’d never once confessed my true feelings for him, “I…I love you Frank. I’ve always loved you and now it’s too late because you’re married to Mikey.”

I didn’t look at him once while I said it and his silence worried me. I risked a glance to saw the tears streaming down his face and I felt overcome with guilt. Even more guilt than I’d felt for Mikey that morning,

“Gee, I know we were fooling around but…why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because you were already with Mikey and as ironic as it seems, I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Our exchange was interrupted by Mikey hurrying over to us,

“Frankie, we need to go. Our flight boards in an hour.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there, I just need to say bye to Gee.”

Mikey smiled and said his goodbyes to me before leaving us to it. He understood the closeness between me and Frankie, even though he didn’t realise how close we really were. Frank looked back at me and pulled me into a hug,

“I’m sorry Gee, if you’d have said…but you didn’t. Gee you’re still my best friend; I don’t want to lose you.”

“I know Frankie, just go. I’ll see you when you come back.”

I allowed him a week smile before kissing the side of his face, something we’d always done even before we started messing around together. I watched as he walked back towards the building and couldn’t help but regret not telling him sooner.