Page 45 of Beautiful Thing

My palms are sweating as I take in many pairs of narrowed eyes. Too many knowing gazes. It’s clear that no one believes me. Somehow, the girls all know I’m lying.

Shit. I’m a terrible liar.

Ziggy is the first to clear her throat and speak. “Well, you clearly have the hots for Archer but—”

“I do not!” I shout defensively.

The girls exchange looks.

Okay, Layla. You’ve got to keep your story straight!Either I’m dating Archer or I’m not dating Archer. I can’t have it both ways.

“As I was saying,” Ziggy continues, “something about this just feels…off.”

I’m sweating. Trying to find a believable excuse. And sweating.

Nicky observes my face, taking a step backward and shaking her head. “You know what? I don’t want to know…It might actually be better if we don’t know exactly what’s going on there…”

“Yeah. I’m all for having plausible deniability when Nolan starts drilling me with questions,” Inez agrees.

The girls hustle away, darting toward the house plant section where Mrs. Brighton and Grandma Brighton are browsing in delight.

Ziggy sighs deeply, trailing behind them. “No fair,” she grumbles, hands caressing her tiny baby bump. “I’m the psychic. I know the truth even though I don’t wanna know the truth.”

I give Ziggy an apologetic shrug, grateful to be off the hook.

But then I glance to the side and catch Karli glaring at me, her arms folded across her chest.

I give her a bright grin. “Don’t you want plausible deniability, too?” I ask, my voice full of hope.

Karli scoffs. “Nice try, bitch. I want details.” She loops an arm through mine, dragging me to the opposite side of the floral boutique. “Tell me everything. Don’t skip one single detail.”

18

ARCHER

“Think they have a shot at the playoffs this season?” Mason asks, tilting his head toward the flat-screen mounted on the wall.

I give a slow nod. “Better chance than they did last year.”

“Oh, gosh. They’d better make it,” Karli comments, coming up from behind and slinging her arms around her husband’s shoulders. “Ronan is a huge pain in the butt to deal with when his team loses.”

Everyone laughs, but we all know she’s not wrong. With the exception of his fiancée, Ronan’s whole world revolves around his professional hockey career.

My siblings and all their—er,our—significant others are crowded around a few tables at the back of Nolan’s bar to watch Ronan’s latest away game.

I glance toward the other side of the room just as Dad strolls through the front door. After having dinner with Mom at home, he’s here now to join us and catch the game. Mom insisted on babysitting Sky tonight but I know she’s watching the game from home.

As he moves through the bar, he gets a hero’s welcome. It’s quite the spectacle to watch the townsfolk going all giddy over my father. They treat him like a local celebrity as he weaves through the crowd to try and get to us.

“Welcome home, Dr. Brighton Senior.”

“It’s so nice to see you, Doc.”

“How long are you staying?”

“I have this mole for you to look at before you leave, Dr. Brighton.”

When Layla giggles at that one, I turn toward her. We’re seated right next to each other, here in this booth, but we’re careful to keep some space between us.

---