Page 54 of Between the Lines

Jesse gazes at me like I’m talking in a foreign tongue.

“How the hell—” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Do Penny or Danny know about this?”

“No!” Stepping towards him, I nearly jump out of my skin. “And they can’t know. I have it under control.” The desperation is thick in my voice and I hate that.

Jesse pushes off his black shorts, standing tall above me. “Fia . . . I can’t lie to your sister.”

“Jesse!” I snap, and his green eyes find mine. I’m on the brink of tears. “You. Cannot. Tell. Anyone.” I breathe deep, combing my fingers through the tips of my hair. A nervous habit. “If Penny finds out, she’ll want to be involved, which means she will use this as leverage to sell the house. We both know that’s true.”

He pinches his lips together tight. He can’t deny it.

“She’s been waiting for a reason to get rid of the house,” I say as I kick at the pebbles under my feet, squinting in the high afternoon sun. “But I’m fixing the problem. In less than five weeks it will be livable again, and Daisy and I will move back in.”

Jesse unclenches his jaw, nodding slowly, taking it in. “That’s a lot for one person to take on alone. You sure you don’t need some help, Fi? How are you paying for this? Where are you staying?”

I cross my arms, knowing it’s no use to hide anything from Jesse.

“My boss is letting me stay in his guesthouse for free for a bit,” I respond quietly.

Jesse opens his mouth, but I hold up my hand in defense.

“It’s been a little over a week,” I say, stronger now, “and we’re adjusting well. The place is new and safe. Daisy, Hamburger, and I are good.” I step forward, nudging his shoe with mine. “I promise, Jesse.”

I can tell he doesn’t like this by the way he’s avoiding my gaze.

But it’s not up to him. It’s up to no one but me.

“Where’d you get the money to fix the roof?” He narrows his eyes quizzically at me. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“I got a loan.”

Jesse raises his brows. I’ve always been a shit liar.

The silence stretches on, my foot fidgeting on the stone pavers.

“Okay,” I say faster. “Caden loaned me the money—”

“Wait, your boss?” Jesse asks, pitch an octave higher.

“Yes.” I glance back in paranoia at the cafe, but Caden’s not standing there. “His family owns a construction business, and he got me a great deal on the repairs.”

Jesse tilts his head back, neck flexing, and shakes his head.

“Look,” I continue, sucking in a breath, “y’all are always harping on me, but I took care of this. Once it’s all said and done, I will tell Danny and Penny. I just needed to do this on my own. You have to understand.”

He bites his lip.

I snap my eyes to his and hold them there. “Jesse, I need your word. Promise you won’t tell them. About any of it.”

My sister would show up to Caden’s house in the middle of the night if she knew I was staying there.

“Fuck,” he growls and starts massaging his temples.

I know I’m asking a lot. He and my sister don’t keep anything from each other.

Jesse inhales sharply. “Fine. But if anything at all happens, promise you’ll call me immediately.”

I nod silently. I can agree to that.