Page 112 of Just a Little White Lie

“Some leader.” Jack scoffs.

That tone hurts. It’s like whiplash going from comfort to pain this way.

I wriggle my leg off his lap and dump the peas on the coffee table. “I need him in that crew. He needs to be there.”

“Well, tough luck. The principal said he had one chance left, and he just lost it.”

A chill sweeps through me. I can’t believe Jack is being like this. So hardline. Where’s the compassion?

I shake my head. “I’m not kicking Mav off the team. They need him.”

My boyfriend’s incredulous expression would normally make me laugh, but I’m so deadly serious about this, and he knows it. “He could ruin it for the whole team. He’s too unpredictable. You can’t trust him.”

“I need to. He needs this chance.”

“Look, Lauren, I get that you care about the kid, but you’re not thinking about everyone else in this scenario.” He holds up his index finger. “One person can destroyeverything. And it’s just not fair. You have to protect the rest of the group.” His voice goes raspy and weak, and I can’t help wondering if he’s thinking about his own experience. And how no one protected him from his conniving dance partner.

But this is totally different.

“He’s not out to sabotage them. They’re his family.” I soften my voice, reaching for Jack’s hand. He lets me take it, but his fingers are tense beneath my touch.

His jaw works to the side as he shakes his head. “But he could. He might not mean to, but he has the potential to ruin this for the whole crew. Shouldn’t you be concerned with the bigger picture here? What if he loses it at Dance-Mania? How’s that going to go down with the team? With the school? This whole thing could fall apart because of him.”

I let go of his hand, annoyed that he’s not getting this. “Maverick is not out to ruin lives. He doesn’t want to have this temper. Do you have any idea where he’s come from? The kid has lived through hell.”

Jack sighs, his eyebrows wrinkling with a look of pleading. He lightly touches my face, like he’s begging me to understand. “I get that he’s had it rough. I get that your great big heart wants to fix this. But if he can’t control his temper, then—”

“He can,” I argue. “I know he can. I have to believe he can!” My voice is pitching with desperation, and I wish it wouldn’t. I don’t want to get all screechy, but I have to make Jack understand. Licking my lips, I lower my voice and try for calm and emotionless. “I’ve told you already, Mav is the leader. They all look to him. Theyneedhim. You don’t know these kids like I do. I’ve spenthoursworking with them. I’ve pored over their files. I’ve talked to them, sweated with them, worked my ass off with them! It’s because of me that they even have this chance!”

His hand drops from my face. I feel the loss immediately, and it’s only amplified by the way he shifts away. The small gap suddenly feels like the Grand Canyon. His expression is wounded, his shoulders slumping as he rests his elbows on his knees.

“Right.” He clears his throat. “It’s all because of you.” He scoffs and shakes his head. “It’s not like I did anything. It’s not like I helped you out of that hole you were stuck in. You’re the dynamic dance teacher, right? You have it all under control.”

I gape at him, too pissed off to say anything.

Why is he being so mean?

“It’s not like Luke didn’t take you in, insist you get a job, bought you a freaking car.”

“I have to pay him back for that,” I retort.

Jack lets out another scoff and bolts off the couch, pacing in front of the coffee table. “You don’t even get it,” he mutters.

I set my jaw, anger firing through me. I’m so not in the mood to fight with him. Why is he doing this? He should be comforting me, not trying to make me feel bad.

And he thinks I don’t get it.

Hedoesn’t get it!

I can’t kick Mav off the team. I refuse. He needs this chance!

With a little huff, I try to settle my anger and smooth things over. I hate the tension in the room right now. The great divide between us seems to be getting bigger by the second. We’ll need an ocean liner to be able to cross it.

“Look, I’ve got it handled, okay? You don’t have to worry.”

He stops pacing to stare down at me. “What does that even mean?”

“It means that Mav can stay on the team. That we’re going to go to this competition, and they’re going to be amazing, and it’ll all work out. I’m going to have a chat with him tomorrow morning, and we’ll smooth everything over, and he’ll be on his best behavior. I know he will.”

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