Page 119 of The Other Side of Green

“What’s going on?” I didn’t know who I was talking to more. Jack and the face of stone that I knew was hiding something probably quite hideous. Or Evan.

“Lyra, meet Simon, my cousin. Maternal side, hence the shared good looks.” Evan winked at me and Jack stepped forward an inch. I rolled my eyes in his direction before holding my hand out.

“Simon as in ‘talent scout Simon’?”

“Talent scout with no venue it seems.” He shook my hand warmly and I could feel his eyes glancing me over assessing everything he saw. “So you’re the girl that’s caused such a stir.”

I blushed and tucked my hair behind my ear. “Storm in a teacup I think.”

Evan made us jump by kicking at the door. “What’s going on, Jack?” He swung around. “And how come you’re carrying all your belongings in bags?”

“I went to pick up my stuff.”

I shot a side-eye at Jack. I hadn’t known that. A raging bubble of hot jealousy burned in my chest.

“And.” Evan rolled his hand. His patience for drib drab reveals clearly at an end.

“And they’ve taken everything.”

“But you’ve still got your job, right?” I caught his sleeve, making him look at me, finding despondency in his eyes shadowed with darkness. He swallowed and nodded but didn’t answer.

“So, no club, no audition.” Simon yawned wide and pulled his cell out of his pocket again, focusing on it and speed typing.

“Hey, hey.” Evan snapped his fingers under his nose which Simon batted away. “Who said no audition?”

A car rolled down the quiet road. We’d need to be moving on soon. I didn’t think any of us wanted to get caught up in a mob riot when our regulars realized their dive bar was closed for the foreseeable.

The driver’s window rolled down. “What’s going on?” Alex leaned through the window gap. Eva gave me a wave from the passenger side. Jack stiffened and I put a hand on his arm, just in case. I could almost sense the punch up in the air. Growing up with Jack and Luca had certainly kept me on my toes.

“What are you doing here?” I kept my tone light. I had no beef with Alex, not really. I mean, he’d come all the way to New Orleans for Grams’ funeral, but still… he was a Collins.

“We found a lost brother—a real one—and Eva knew you were coming to work.”

Confused, I peered into the back of Alex’s Mercedes. Scrunched in the back was Luca. “Luca?” Tears stung my eyes. “Oh my god, what are you doing here? I only spoke to you earlier; you didn’t say anything.” I studied Luca’s face. It seemed thinner, shadowed in the cheeks.

“Jack.” Luca nodded his head.

“Luca.” Jack nodded back in return.

Was that it?

“Is someone going to let me out of the back of this damn small car?” Alex jumped into action and sprung open his door, releasing the seat so Luca could clamber through. I flung myself at him, breaking out of Jack’s hold.

“I’m so sorry, Luca, so sorry.”

He pushed me back, smoothing my curls. “Don’t be. I’m okay. I’m here, aren’t I? And Jack is here, we are both fine.”

I sniffed; a loose lid on the snot blowing eruption that wanted to take place.

“I’m sorry I made you go to the police, but I had to.” I glanced at Jack, my heart pulsing. “I just had to, Luca.”

“You’re an idiot sometimes, Lyra. I’m not angry with you. You made me do the right thing. I can breathe again now.”

Jack’s gaze burned into my back.

So maybe I hadn’t told him everything too.

Maybe secrets were our thing.