Page 64 of The Other Side of Green

I blocked out her words, refusing the truth. My mom had been through enough, I didn’t plan to put her through any more. Not if I could help it.

As I reached the door my cell rang: Greene.

Damn it to all hell.

“Who is it?” Evan asked.

“Greene.”

“What does he want?”

“Probably wondering when I’m going to be back to work.” I pocketed my cell. “He’ll have to wait.”

Evan’s lips pursed into a line. “You’re going to have to talk to Lyra about going back too. She’d can’t not show now they’ve had this huge demonstration about her scholarship.”

My heart sank down to the pit of my stomach as reality hit.

Lyra and I wouldn’t be able to return to Boston together—either way.

I’d either be her tutor still, or I’d be her brother.

Neither of those were acceptable to me.

Jack – One Year Before

“Jack, can I have a word?”

My feet ground to a halt as I walked away from the practice room. Greene loitered with intent, prowling the hallways looking for unsuspecting students to harass with questions. It was his thing.

“Sure.”

“Do you want a coffee?”

I pretended to look at my watch—a gift from Miriam, another golden bauble to weigh me down. “I’ve got to meet Miriam after her practice.”

“I’m sure she can wait.”

I didn’t want to argue, but knew waiting wasn’t one of her specialties. My face must have said as much because he chortled in that toe rocking way he’d perfected.

My feet dragged to the coffee shop on campus. Time was ticking along. I didn’t know what would happen once this degree finished and I could escape the Collins family and their twisted games.

Evan and I had a plan—a goal. Set up our own bar, somewhere with a unique vibe. That was the only plan.

How we’d do it, I had no clue.

“What would you like?” Greene looked at me expectantly and I stared at the menu, dreading another bad coffee. “One shot latte please, no foam.”

He nodded and then asked the barista for a milky coffee.

Once we had our drinks, we settled at a small, round table near the window—a bit too near the window for my liking. I ducked my head down.

“So?” I asked. “How can I help?”

“Well.” He paused, like he was still making his mind up on what he wanted to ask me. “I was wondering if you’d thought of what you’d do when you finished your degree. You are expected to achieve a GPA of four. It seems silly to waste the extraordinary talent you have for the piano, as well as, of course, your popularity with the other students.”

“Mm, I think that’s probably because I’m dating Miriam.”

Everyone wanted to know a Collins.