Page 52 of Finding Us
Jacinta’s phone rings as we’re waiting in the front quadrangle for the kindergarten teachers to come out of the classrooms and collect their students. My eyes are glued to her tight arse as she slides her hand into her back pocket to retrieve it. It’s so round and peachy, and I remember all too well what it felt like in my hands.
She looks down at the screen and nibbles on her bottom lip. “Connor,” she says, answering the call and side-eyeing me. “I’m sorry about your coffee, I got sidetracked.” Every time she goes silent, I know he’s speaking, but I can’t hear what he’s saying to her. “I … umm … I’m at Blake’s school with Mason.”
“You’re with Mason!” I hear when she pulls the phone away from her ear. It was more like a yell, so I know he’s not happy. “Put him on.”
She gives me a sympathetic look when she passes the phone to me. “Connor,” I say.
“Why are you hanging out with my little sister? I swear to God if you lay one finger—”
I cut him off before he can get the rest of his words out. I don’t want to be put in a position where I have to lie to him, because I’ve already had more than my fingers on her. “I wouldn’t exactly call it hanging out.”
“What would you call it then?”
“We ran into your sister in the lift earlier and Blake invited her.” My gaze darts to Red, and she’s now chewing nervously on her thumb nail. “If you want the honest truth, I didn’t even want her to come with us.”
When her eyes slightly narrow, a small smile tugs at my lips.
“What the fuck, man. Why are you being mean to my little sister?”
“Dude,” I say. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?” he bellows. “It’s a little late for that don’t you think? What has she ever done to you?”
I tilt my head back, staring up at the sky. What hasn’t she done to me would be a better question? The list is extensive, but it’s not like I can unload any of that on him. “I’m confused, are you mad that your sister is here withme, or because I didn’t want her to come with us?”
“Both.”
“On that note, I’m going to put you back on to your sister.”
Without speaking another word, I pass Jacinta her phone and shove my hands into the pockets of my trousers. My mood has soured again … or maybe I’m just struggling with the guilt that’s been eating away at me ever since I found out who she was. I never would’ve touched her if I knew, but either way, I’m not doing this here.
“Are you okay, Dad?” Blake asks, looking up at me with concern.
“I’m great, buddy,” I reply, forcing out a smile.
“I promise I’d tell you if he was being mean to me, Con,” I hear Red say, and obviously she’s lying through her teeth, because I’m definitely not proud of how I’ve acted towards her since we’ve reunited. “No nothing is going on between us.”Another lie.“Look I’ve got to go; Blake’s teacher is coming.” And that completes her hat trick of untruths.
She ends the call without waiting for his reply, and this time, I’m the one giving her the sympathetic look because now we’re both entangled in this clusterfuck of deceit.
I’m feeling emotional when it’s time to say our goodbyes. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay, bud?”
“Yeah, Dad,” Blake replies.
“If you have any problems tell the teacher and ask them to call me.”
“Okay.”
After giving him a brief hug, I straighten. “I’ll see you at three o’clock.”
“Are you coming too, Jazzie?” he asks, looking up at her with hopeful eyes.
“No,” I say, answering for her. “I have to go back to the office, so you’ll be coming with me.”
He dips his face. “But it’s boring there.”
“I’ve got to work, bud.”
“I have no plans this afternoon,” Red interjects. “I can pick him up and take him back to my place until you finish if you like?”
