Page 54 of The Friend Game

Luke clears his throat, seemingly gathering his composure as well. “And what’s that?” he asks.

“Are you going to make me watchStars Warswith you at some point, because, if so, I’m going to need lots of advanced warning so that I can prep a things-to-do-during-the-movie bag.”

Luke’s answering chuckle grabs my heart and holds it close. This man. I think he’s my person.

I can’t mess us up. Which means: no more lies.

Chapter 21

“I HAVE TO tell him, George,” I announce as I walk into George’s office the next day. “I can’t keep lying…” my voice trails off as I realize George is not alone. Nope. Lexie Stone is sitting in the chair across from him, looking fashionably festive on this, the last day of school before the holiday break. Most of the other parent volunteers who came in today to help with class parties sported things like reindeer antlers, snowman earrings, or in the case of one particularly spirited dad, a full-on Buddy the elf costume. Not Lexie, though.

Nope. Lexie has outfitted herself in a form-fitting red sweater dress paired with thigh-high leather boots that I’m guessing cost more than my whole outfit put together. Although, to be fair, most pairs of shoes cost more than my whole outfit put together, seeing as I purchased both my horrendously ugly Christmas sweater (picture a pug in antlers overtop a green background dotted with ahodgepodge of Christmas trees and that’s my sweater) and the jeans I paired it with from Salvation Army ($12.99 for both thanks to a well-timed blue tag sale!).

She looks more like she belongs at a fancy Christmas soiree than at her kids’ elementary school parties.

And yet, I feel incredibly frumpy in her presence and even find myself wondering why I didn’t wear a fancy dress to school today. It’s the Lana Marie Bell effect. Similar to the Regina George effect: cut two holes in the bust of her shirt and suddenly that’s what everyone is doing.

But I digress.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I amend my speech given Lexi’s presence. “I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”

“Oh, that’s quite alright,” George says. I peer more closely at him, surprised to see a tense frown in place of his typically amiable expression. “We were just finishing up, right, Mrs. Stone?”

Lexie looks at me, her curiosity evident in her features. “Yes, we were, Principal Novak, unless Miss Garza here is in need of my assistance? As the PTA president, I’m well-versed in many topics pertaining to the school. If there’s something difficult you need to tell someone, I’d be happy to mediate the conversation.”

My eyes pop wide at the very thought of Lexie going anywhere near the conversation I need to have with Luke. Hard pass. I inhale deeply, sending up a prayer for some of that peace on earth this season is known for.

“That’s nice of you to offer, but I think I’ll be okay,” I tell her, pasting on a smile.

“Well, okay then,” she trills, rising from her seat. “I suppose I’ll be going. But you’ll think about what I said, Principal Novak?”

He gives her a terse nod, but no other response.

“Lovely,” she purrs, before rising from her chair and exiting the office. I hear her speaking to the secretary in undertones. I sort of want to try and listen, but the disgruntled expression on George’s face has me shutting the office door and sitting down in the chair across from him instead.

“What was that about?” I ask, leaning forward, elbows on his desk.

He shakes his head. “You don’t want to know. Now what were you going on about when you walked in? Telling who, what?”

“Oh.” I slump back in my chair with a sigh. “George, I have to tell Luke the truth about my certification,” I say. “I can’t keep on lying to him.”

George’s eyebrows shoot up and his mouth curves up in amusement. “Oh, it’s Luke now is it?”He settles his arms over his stomach and studies me. “You like him.”

“What?” I gasp. “Idonot.”

“Hannah, I’ve been a principal for over 30 years, and as such I consider myself something of an expert at detecting when someone is lying. And you, my dear, are lying. You like my son. Nothing wrong with that.”

“Oh really?” I huff. “You don’t see any problems with it?”

“Problems? What problems?”

“I don’t know, off the top of my head I’d say the fact that I’m lying to him about my certification.” I tick the item off on my finger.

“For his own good,” George dismisses my concern.

“Okay, or how about the fact that he’s not allowed to date anyone until March.” I tick off another finger.

“Technicality.” George waves this away. “So you have to wait a few months to date. Nothing you two can’t handle.”

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