Pants on Fire by Maggie Alderson Page A

more interesting.
    â€œDid you meet anyone else on Sunday?” asked Antony. “Who were you dancing with? I can’t remember. Got too out of it later and blasted those particular brain cells.”
    I hesitated, not sure if I should tell him. He might tell Debbie and I didn’t want to short-circuit the whole thing, whatever kind of thing it was. Yet even as I thought this, I could hear my mouth saying “Billy Ryan.”
    â€œBilly! That’s right, I remember now. You are a fast worker.” He narrowed his eyes and did some eyebrow dancing. “Or did he hit on you?”
    â€œWell, he dragged me onto the dance floor and put his tongue in my mouth.”
    Antony sighed deeply.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? Is he notorious for snogging girls he hardly knows?”
    â€œNo, he’s not notorious, it’s just that through Debbie, I know a bit more about Billy than most people. He’s a lovely guy, but he’s rather confused. What happened between you two?”
    I told him. I made it into a funny story, complete with me falling asleep with a mouth full of crisps. I waited for the HA HA HA—it didn’t come. Another bottle of champagne did and Antony looked uncharacteristically serious. The dancing brows were meeting in a frown.
    â€œGeorgia, I’ve only know you five minutes, but I really like you. We are going to be friends. I don’t make new friends very often, but when I meet someone and we click, that’s it. So I’m going to tell you exactly why Billy behaved the way he did, because I don’t want you to be disappointed.”
    I felt a bit sick. “Is he gay?” At least I got a laugh that time. “No, he is not gay. It would be easier if he was. No, Billy’s problem is that he’s in love with his own brother’s wife.”
    â€œHe’s what? I don’t believe this town. His best friend is Rory Stewart, whose brother was engaged to Debbie Brent, who is Billy’s cousin . . . oh, I give up . . .”
    â€œIt gets better. Or worse. The woman Billy is in love with—the one married to his brother, Tom—is . . . wait for it . . . Rory’s sister.”
    â€œRory’s sister ? Hang on, doesn’t that also make her the sister of Debbie’s dead fiancé?”
    Antony nodded.
    â€œThis is ridiculous. You’ll have to draw me a Venn diagram. Is everyone in Sydney related?”
    â€œPretty much. At the top end of ‘society’ they are, anyway. The Ryans, the Stewarts and the Brents are three big country families. They all grew up together. That awful plane crash makes the whole thing seem a lot more gothic, but they’ve all been marrying each other for a hundred years. That’s why Debbie’s ghastly little common mother was a good thing—some fresh blood. Debbie and Drew’s children would have been really something, but I think it will be good if she marries outside the clans now.”
    â€œBut hang on, tell me more about Billy. He’s in love with his sister-in-law, Rory’s sister. What’s her name, anyway?”
    â€œElizabeth Ryan, née Stewart—known as Lizzy.”
    â€œIs this Lizzy in love with Billy?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAre they doing something about it?”
    Antony nodded as he drained his glass.
    â€œDoes her husband—hang on, Billy’s brother —know?”
    â€œNo. Tom doesn’t know about them, but he does know something weird is going on.”
    This was incredible. “Does Rory know?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHow does he feel about it?”
    â€œHe’s not very happy about it, but he doesn’t say anything. Remember, his sister is his last living sibling and she suffered a lot after the crash too. I guess he reckons it’s her—er—affair, so he and Billy just never talk about it. They both pretend it’s not happening. That’s why Billy kissed you like that—to show Rory