Page 29 of The Lies We Tell Ourselves

“You’re so weird, JJ.” Her stomach rumbled again, and I could hear Zack’s voice in the background yelling for her to wash her hands. She rolled her eyes at me. It took every ounce of control not to laugh at her.

“Jamie, who are you talking to, grinning like that?” Ava asked as she plonked herself down next to me and grabbed my phone. “Oh, hello cutie. Who are you?”

“You look like a rainbow fairy!” Jessie squealed, clapping her hands, her grumbling stomach all but forgotten. “Do you really have rainbow hair?”

“I sure do. So you like it?”

“I love it!! You look real pretty.”

Ava’s cheeks tinged with a soft pink blush. “Well, thank you. You look like a princess with your long hair.”

I grabbed the phone off Ava. “Jessie this is my new friend Ava?—”

“Fairy Ava.” I rolled my eyes at Jessie’s sass.

“Ava, this is my little sunbeam, Jessie.”

“Hey Jessie, it was lovely to meet you, but I need to drag Jamie to get some food. I’m starving.”

“Me too.” Jessie giggled. “I gotta go. Mama is shoutin’ for me.”

“Bye—” before I could finish, the screen went black, and Ava burst out laughing. She flopped backwards onto the grass and tucked an arm behind her head.

“Get down here.” She tugged my shirt until I was lying next to her, and we stared at the clouds. “Mal’s running late. He had to stay behind and ask Mr. Powell some questions.” I flicked my gaze over to her and checked our group chat, but there weren’t any messages. “I saw him when I cut through his building. There was a whole group of nerds asking questions.”

“No problem.”

“So, is Jessie…”

“Don’t look at me like that.” I snickered. “I’m too young for kids.” I rolled my eyes at her smirk. “She’s my niece. I live with my aunt. Or, you know, I did before I came here.”

I didn’t know what kind of reaction I was expecting. Maybe I thought I’d see pity in Ava’s eyes or she’d ask questions but no, she surprised me.

“Oh, sweet. Is it just your aunt and that lil’ cutie, or are there more of you?”

“There’s also my cousin Zack but that’s it.” Linking her fingers through mine Ava gave them a quick squeeze.

“I live with my Nanna. Mom and Dad died in a car crash when I was five. I was in the accident too, but I don’t remember it. They said my car seat saved me.” My heart went out to little Ava losing so much so young. “It’s all good though.” She hitched her shoulder up as she turned to look back up at the clouds. “I mean, I don’t really remember them, but Nanna has lots of photos and tells me stories all the time. So, I guess I know them through her more than my memories.”

My eyes fluttered shut as I processed everything she said. “Well, now you have me and Mal. I mean, what more could you want?” My words had the effect I was hoping for when Ava cracked up, melting away all the tension from the moment.

“Hey guys,” Mal said, dropping down to sit at our feet. I squinted against the afternoon sun and shielded my eyes with my hand. The bruise on his cheek had faded to a greenish yellow and was still a point of contention between us. I wanted him to report the incident, but he refused. “God, what a day. I was thinking we could go off campus to eat instead of staying here?”

“Heck, yes!” Ava jumped up and grabbed her bag before turning to look at me. “You coming, JJ?”

I opened my mouth ready to answer, but Mal cut me off. “Thought we could go to The Smoke House and get barbecue?” Mal said, brushing the grass off his jeans as he got up.

“Uh.” I sighed. “I would, but I kinda need to go to the library as I’ve got a paper to write.”

“You sure? We can always go tomorrow?”

“I’m sure. Thanks, Mal. I’m just gonna grab something from the cafeteria, then head down. I’d rather get a head start on this than rush it.”

“Such a good boy.” Ava snickered. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Ava.” I hugged them both and grabbed my bag. “If I can get most of it planned tonight, then maybe we could do something tomorrow?”

“There’s a party on Greek Row?”

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