Page 96 of The Other Side of Green

“Jaaaack.”

“What?”

“When are you going to learn, this secret crap doesn’t help anything.”

I tutted and rolled my eyes, despite him not seeing me. “It’s not secret crap. It’s more why tell her everything when we still don’t know who her dad is. I mean, I think she’s freaked out enough that it could be the monster who lived next to her house all those years, but to add in the mix that he’s a blackmailing, corrupt asshole… well I think she can live without that.”

He sighed, stretching it out. “Okay, you know best. Anyway, the reason I’m calling...”

“Other to annoy me,” I cut in.

“Is to say that Simon is coming to town next week.”

“And?”

“I think he should hear Lyra sing.”

“Evan, no. She’s only just got back to college.”

“If you think for one moment that you guys can come back here and play out a happy ever after without some sort of backlash, you are more stupid than I’ve ever considered. You are still a member of staff, and she is still a student and is an infamous one.”

“Evan…” I warned.

“Ask her. Get her to work tonight. We miss her being around.”

I huffed a breath. “Okay. If I find her.”

“You haven’t lost her again already have you?”

“Bye now.”

“See you tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes. When Lyra comes to the club to sing. Jesus, am I having this conversation with myself?” He hung up just like that.

Muttering cuss words under my breath, I pocketed my cell and jogged up the stairs. I didn’t want to go knocking on her dorm in full daylight.

I grinned when I found her sat near the classics. “You know, anyone would think you prefer reading to music.”

She carefully slotted a piece of paper in the pages of the book and put it down. “I do.”

“Shhh… you can’t be saying that now, people have marched on your behalf.”

She grimaced. “And don’t I know it. Do you know how often I’ve been stared at today and whispered about?”

“Believe me, they are just jealous of the headlines.”

“They can have them.”

I leaned down into her space, breathing in that slight floral scent that always seemed to naturally waft around her. “So you don’t want to sing tonight at Blue’s Bar?”

Her gaze lifted to my face. “Is it still Blue’s Bar?”

“Apparently so.” It niggled on my nerves that Jenson Collins hadn’t made any sort of act of retribution toward me. I know I wasn’t to blame for the race row explosion, but I had backed out of every deal I’d made with them. Maybe he didn’t know I was back yet.

“Evan’s cousin has come to listen to you.” Honesty was best. The look in her eyes told me she knew I was close to holding it back.