Page 29 of The Other Side of Green

I tried to brazen it out, but the burn of my cheeks gave me away. “I think her music is tied to me somehow.”

“Oh Lord.” Mom rolled her eyes to heaven like the big man would help—he wouldn’t, I’d tried that.

Lufette “hmm’d” under his breath. “So let me get this right. There is currently a big publicity row about racism at one of America’s universities, a college where you are employed; and your best friend’s sister, who can no longer play music, is the latest recipient of the racist award.” He looked between us and I caught Mom’s eye before nodding.

“That’s about a half of it.” I went to say more, but a loud banging on the front door stopped the words in my mouth. “And I think this might be the rest.”

I stalked for the door, preparing myself. Not prepared enough, Luca’s right hook propelled me back a few staggering feet.

“You slept with her? My sister and your student! You sick fucking bastard.”

Chapter Eight

Lyra

I greedily sucked the warm air into my lungs, lifting my face to the sun’s rays. Outside the small house with the pulled drapes and heavy atmosphere, I could breathe a little easier. Just a little. After all, the sun couldn’t erase the fact Grams had gone and last night I’d lied to Jack.

I pulled my purse a little tighter around my body as I walked to the store. Had I been right to lie?

I could only go with my gut, which told me yes. The truth would destroy Jack, and still, I wanted to find out more before I said anything else.

So that’s what I planned to do.

I had a few days before Grams’ funeral. I’d use my time wisely. If I didn’t, the future lay before me as a wonky path through a thorny mess.

My cell rang in my pocket on the corner of Clements Street and my stomach sunk.

Jack.

I pulled it out, heart thumping high in my throat, then let out a long exhale as Evan’s name and smug face flashed on the screen.

“Little Lyra,” he drawled.

“Erroneous Evan.” I walked a bit quicker past a group of guys on the corner, jeans hung low, golden chains around their necks.

“How are you? I’m so sorry about your Grams. I know how important she was to you.”

“Thanks.” I forced the word through my tight windpipe.

“How’s Jack?” he asked.

“I don’t know.”

A beat of a pause, then. “Don’t know or don’t want to know?”

“Both, equal measure, served with remorse on the side.”

Evan sighed and it hollowed my bones. I wanted to sigh too, but I knew if I did, I might just collapse down and never stand back up again, like a balloon deflated of all air.

“Why’d you leave without him?”

God, he wasn’t going to leave it alone, was he?

“Are you doing his heavy lifting for him now?” I peered around the corner to the store, checking that no one I knew, or more specifically none of Grams’ church crew were going to launch themselves on me.

“No. But you know, Jack and I have been friends for four years, and he was happier in the last week than I’d even thought he could possibly be. I thought he was destined to be a miserable, tortured asshole for the rest of his life.”

I did sigh, and it did echo down deep in my bones. “It’s complicated.”