Page 123 of Just a Little White Lie

Music is playing on the radio, but I’m barely listening to it. A light rain is falling, and the window wipers are making an irritating squeak each time they pass over the glass. I grit my teeth and focus on my driving.

I just need to get home.

Mum will have some good food waiting for me, and Dad will probably be watching some kind of sport on TV. That suits me just fine.

The second I pull into my driveway, Mum’s opening the front door and stepping down to greet me.

She’s a shorty, like Lauren, and I engulf her in a hug, picking her off her feet and smiling at her laughter.

“My big man.” She pats my cheek when I set her back down. “Welcome home.”

“Thanks, Mum.” I grab my overnight bag and follow her inside.

Dad’s in his armchair, predictably watching a replay of Super Rugby. I shake his hand, and we chat about the game for a minute before Mum ushers me into the kitchen. She’s made fresh caramel slice and has the kettle boiling already.

“Tea or coffee?”

“I’ll take tea.” I point to the berry one, and she starts humming as she gets busy brewing me a cup.

I spot her phone sitting near the kettle and wonder if I should ask to borrow it. But I don’t know anyone’s number by heart.

Mum might have Luke’s, but she definitely won’t have Lauren’s.

Luke knows I’m coming up here. I told him when he called to ask about dinner tonight that I’d be away for a few days, but I didn’t have the guts to admit it was partly because Lauren and I got into a big argument.

I should see if I can text him now and get him to pass a message along to his sister. But I really don’t want to admit to him that I’m brooding. He hates it when I do that. He’ll be pissed, accusing me of hurting his sister, something I promised I wouldn’t do.

But she’s the one who said she doesn’t need me!

She doesn’t even want me at Dance-Mania.

I’m just doing what she told me to.

And hating every second of it.

I lean against the counter and close my eyes.

“You okay?” Mum taps the teaspoon on the side of my mug.

“Nah.” I shake my head.

When I open my eyes, I catch the full beam of her sympathetic gaze.

“Take a seat, sweetie. Let’s have a chat.”

She passes me my mug of tea, and I walk to the dining room table, slumping down with a heavy sigh and telling her everything.

LAUREN

It’s impossible not to fly home. I sing so loud to the music blasting out of the car speakers that my throat’s hoarse by the time I reach the house. Luke’s car is in the driveway… but not Jack’s.

My stomach sinks.

The happy feelings disintegrate as I relive our unresolved argument.

I’m going to have to talk to him. Apologize. Hopefully the fact that I told the truth will soften him up, although he’ll probably still be annoyed that Maverick is allowed to compete.

Anger sizzles through me. I wish he could understand where I was coming from.

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