I layed in bed, reminiscing about what happened yesterday. It was really beautiful and I felt like being in his arms forever.
"Tala" I heard my name downstairs. I came back home really late at night and that's very unlike me. Liz really wanted to know what happened but I was too tired for any form of discussion yesterday.
I went downstairs and she was seated on the couch, "I'm sure you've rested enough, now can you tell me about last night?"
Oh Liz! At this point I wish she had forgotten about last night
"uhmm.." I stuttered,
I wasn't really used to saying things like this to her but then I think it's high time I tell her about Lowell.
"Okay, his name is Lowell and we met at the bookstore weeks ago. We've been really bonding for a while now, he asked me out to dinner yesterday and I agreed. One thing let go another and we had sex" I said shyly.
"Lowell? That's his name?" Liz asked with all seriousness.
"That's the name of the guy I told you we've dating for few months now"
I took a wrap of chocolate on the table, ate it, and said to her, " I'm sure they're lots of Lowell in this city, Liz. You're getting worked up over nothing"
"I guess you're right, anyway, he'll be coming tonight for dinner." she said smiling.
She mentioned this couple of weeks ago and I'd really love to see this Lowell which happened to bear the same name as my man.
My man? I couldn't stop smiling when I thought of that, I had a man of my kind now.
*****
"Ding ding" the doorbell rang, I heard it from my room but didn't bother since Liz was in the living room.
I heard voices and decided to leave my room, maybe her man was here already.
I walked into the living room but what I saw left me speechless.
Lowell, was standing in my living room, sipping a glass of wine with my aunt Liz. My mind went blank as I tried to process what I was seeing. How did he get to know my address? I never shared it with him.
"Lowell," I managed to say, my voice trembling.
He turned around, looked at me and was as confused as I was. "What are you doing here, Tala?", he said, his eyes darting between Liz and me.
I felt like I had been punched in the gut. "What's going on here? You never mentioned you were coming, and how did you find my address?" I demanded, trying to act cool.
Lowell looked at Liz, then back at me, he looked confused. "I don't understand, Tala. Liz invited me over for dinner and I had no idea you lived here too"
Liz stepped forward, a fake grin on her face.
"What's going on here is that Lowell is my boyfriend, Tala. I told you he was coming today, remember?
My head was spinning. Boyfriend? Lowell was Liz's boyfriend?
The same Lowell I was really into and thought we were a thing? The same one I've shared my deepest secrets with? I felt very betrayed.
"All along, you knew Liz was my aunt, and you still played me?" I accused, my voice rising.
Lowell took a step forward trying to reach out to me but I took a step backward. "Tala, I swear, I had no idea. Liz never mentioned you were her niece."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The room seemed to close in on me as I tried to process everything.
Liz's eyes widened as she turned to Lowell, her voice trembling with anger and disbelief. "You're dating my niece? Tala, is this true? Is this the Lowell you talked about?
I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions: anger, hurt, and betrayal. "Yes, Liz."
Lowell had this guilty look on his face. "Liz, I can explain. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I met Tala at the bookstore and we connected really well. I got to find out she was of my kind and that made us bond even more, and I never knew she was your niece."
Liz looked really pitiful at this point. "Tala, is of your kind? Tala is a wolverine? And I never knew? And the best you could do was play both aunt and niece"?
Liz's voice was icy cold. "Get out of my house, out!"
There was tension in the room and I felt it. There was a lot going on in my head at this point.
Liz looked at me sternly and I knew I had some explanations to give.