Page 100 of One Sweet Lie

Whoever was standing outside would eventually get the point.

Crick. Crick. Crick!

The lock turned, and Lauren stepped inside.

“You’re looking at a ghost,” I said. “Harlow isn’t home.”

“That makes sense.” She shrugged. “You haven’t answered my calls in over a week.”

“Because I already know what you’re going to say.”

“Enlighten me, then.” She shut the door. “What am I about to say?”

“Millions of things I don’t want to hear.”

“I can’t argue with that.” She nodded. “Before I address them, are you taking care of yourself?”

No.“Of course, I am. I’m not a child, Lauren.”

“You revert to one whenever you’re going through a personal crisis.” She eyed my leaning tower of pizza boxes.

Without saying a word, she pulled a trash bag from her purse and stuffed the boxes inside. Then she wandered down the hall.

The sound of running water echoed off my walls, and the next thing I knew, she was pulling me to my feet and helping me slide under fluffy white suds.

“Take a good, long soak while I straighten this place,” she said. “I’ll make your bed first, in case you want to take a nap when you’re finished.”

“I’m fine, Lauren,” I said. “I don’t need any help, I promise.”

“Then why are you crying?” She wiped stray tears from my cheeks.

“Seasonal allergies. I get those a lot now.”

“I see.” She propped a plastic pillow behind my neck. “So, if I were to leave now, you’d be your normal happy self by tomorrow?”

“No. Not at all…”

“I thought so.” She kissed my forehead. “Soak for as long as you need to.”

She left me alone, and I leaned back in the tub and tried not to sniffle too loudly.

Three crying spells later

I layin bed while Lauren brushed my hair.

“Do you plan to tell my dad about this?” I asked.

“About what?”

“Me and Pierce breaking up.”

“No.” She tilted my chin to face her. “I didn’t even tell him that you’ve been moonlighting as a nanny and thinking we’re dumb as hell about your nonexistent pastry job.”

“What? How’d you find out?”

She gave me a blank stare.

“Was it that obvious?”

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