Page 134 of The Other Side of Green

“That I had a thing for Lyra?” I made sure to meet his eye.

“I always knew. I figured you’d never do anything though. You know, what with bro code, but apparently that doesn’t mean anything to you.” His dark eyes flashed.

“I do love her, Luca, and I’d break any code time and time again for her to be mine.”

Rolling his eyes, he leaned over and punched my arm. “I know that, and now I’ve had time to brood on the idea, it’s not the worst one I’ve ever heard.”

“Luca, you can’t come in here and think that everything is going to be okay. I didn’t see my mom for four years because of you.”

He dropped his head, studying his toes and then lifted his gaze again. “I know. And I’m sorry. It’s all I can say.” He shrugged.

“Seriously, such a dick.”

A smile spread on his face. “I’m starving. My motel room didn’t come with breakfast. Probably a good thing to be honest. Wanna grab a bite to eat?”

And just like that Luca Lennox managed to turn things in his favor. He really was an ass.

“I’ve got lectures in a couple of hours, but okay, I’ll take you to Letitia’s. Lyra loved it there.”

“Whatever you say. I’m just a tourist in this big old city.”

“Okay, we’d better be quick.”

“Sure. Jack?”

“What?”

“Wanna put some pants on first?”

“What’s going on with your mom?” I dunked some of Letitia’s crumbling biscuits in the pot of gravy. “She still at the house?”

Luca didn’t answer and eventually, I glanced up to find him with his lips set.

“What?” I asked.

“You know, I always believed she’d come right. That one day she’d become this mom that Lyra and I needed, the type that I craved. Your mom, I mean she went through some serious shit, but she always had a smile for you, Jack, no matter how much she was hurt, or scared.”

I nodded, a lump in my throat. Sometimes the only thing Mom and I got to share was a secret smile. Some days she wouldn’t have been allowed to even talk to me.

I forced down the memories. They existed only in the past and they didn’t serve me any longer.

“And your mom?”

“She’s never going to come right. I get that now. What she did at the funeral to you and Lyra, the things she said to Lyra… they were wrong, even for her.”

I lifted my shoulders and let them drop again. “She’s never had time for Lyra.”

“You know she rang Lyra a week or so before Grams died. I overheard her on the cell asking for money.”

I rolled my eyes and shoved another biscuit in my mouth.

“I said, you don’t have to ask Lyra, Mom. I’m right here.” He stared off into the distance for a moment. “You know what she said?”

“Nope, but I’m guessing I’m not going to like it.”

“She said ‘That Little Miss Spoiled Bitch. It’s time she shared her success. It was me who gave her that talent. Me’.”

“Your mom?” I almost laughed. “Was she high?”