Page 143 of The Other Side of Green

I could do this.

It was the right thing.

The Collins family had to go down.

Almost as a premonition, Alex rounded the corner, frowning at some papers in his hand. “Alex!” I stuck my foot out as he almost passed me by.

“Sorry, Lyra.” He glanced up, almost dazed.

I nodded at the papers. “What you got there?”

“Something Jack wanted.”

“Oh right.” I held my hand out expectantly, but he shoved them in the back pocket of his jeans. “Alex?”

“What?”

I narrowed my gaze. “Don’t bullshit me. What are you hiding?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing, Lyra.” He shot me his megawatt smile, clearly hoping to blind me into submission. I sighed. Whatever. I didn’t have time for this.

Remembering what I was on my way to do, I shifted from foot to foot and studied the ground as awkward as fuck—who was keeping the worst secret? Silence settled over us.

“Right, well, I’d better be off.” I nodded to the door to Emmerson.

“What have you got there?” He nodded at the envelope in my hands. Too late to thrust it behind my back.

“Lyra,” he sighed. “Don’t.”

“Why? Because I’ll embarrass your family?”

“God, no.”

“I don’t know what else to do apart from what’s right.”

Alex reached forward and squeezed my shoulder. Without a word he walked away, his step hurrying across campus.

Maybe he was about to give his family a heads-up. Who knew?

I hesitated outside Greene’s office, knees knocking together. Move arm, knock on the damn door.

Lifting both hands, one gripped the necklace around my neck, the other knocked loud and firm.

Would be funny if he’d already gone home. Actually, no it wouldn’t. If I had to build myself up to this again, I might die, or puke, either or both at the same time. Who knew?

“Come in.”

Exhaling a ragged breath, I pulled my shoulders back, standing tall and proud just like Grams taught me.

“Ah, Lyra, come in. I hope you’ve come to tell me you are all unblocked now and playing like a nightingale in spring.”

My face scrunched into a grimace I could see reflected in the window behind his desk. “Well...”

“I see you made the news again. That was some call to action you were making.” He rested back in his chair. “Do you really think society can be fixed?” He looked genuinely interested.

I shrugged. “Don’t you hope so?”

Greene pursed his lips. “You really sing so beautifully too.” He shook his head, almost bemused. “How did one person get all the talent? It seems almost unfair.”