Page 126 of Just a Little White Lie

“Think you can get used to it? I’m kind of keen to keep him as my boyfriend… if I can.”

Luke drops his arms with a sigh, but a smile tugs at his lips. “I’m sure I’ll adjust eventually.”

“I’m an adult, bro. I know I don’t always act like one, but I am. I can date who I want, work where I want, eat what I want.” I smile to soften my little spiel. “And I really appreciate all you’ve done for me, but I’ve got this now. So, you can start being Luke, my bro, and stop being Luke, my guardian, ’kay?”

His eyes, the only similar thing about us, glisten with a smile, and he bobs his head. “Okay.”

Jumping up with a grin, I kiss his cheek and take off down to my room.

I pull out my phone as soon as my door’s shut and give Jack a call.

There’s no answer. I try to leave a message, but my mouth goes dry, so I just hang up instead.

Maybe when he calls me back I’ll find my words.

“Please call me back,” I whisper at the screen, then purse my lips to the side, opening up my photos.

The last one I took was of Jack’s delicious smile. We were having a lazy morning in bed, his messed-up curls on my pillow, his sleepy smile enough to turn my knees to jelly. I brush my thumb over his beautiful face and end up scrolling back through my entire digital album. There’s a bunch of images from the dance studio and my time at Haven Academy, but then I hit my London and Europe pics.

Wow. I took so many photos while I was traveling. I was the selfie queen. I grin at the different memories, smiling at the girl I once was.

But my expression starts to fade, replaced with a sad frown.

I thought I had it all over there. I was the party girl who didn’t want to miss one beat. I shopped at the best stores, spent money I didn’t have on wine and fine dining. I acted like I owned the world… but I didn’t.

For all the fun I had, I was living a self-centered, empty life. My world revolved around me and my friends. And that was it.

I don’t regret all of it. I seriously had fun.

But when I compare that to where I am now… I can’t deny this sense of satisfaction.

I was happy in London.

But I’m fulfilled here. I’m free of that constant niggle of guilt. I’m doing something good with my time. I’m finally living my best life, and it’s so incredibly satisfying.

“Who knew?” I laugh at myself, shaking my head and more determined than ever to make it completely right.

JACK

It’s three o’clock in the morning, and I still haven’t gotten to sleep yet. I can’t find peace, so I can’t find rest. Flinging the covers off me, I sit up with a grunt, wondering if a cup of tea or even just a walk around the house might help me settle.

Padding out to the kitchen, I get the kettle boiling and am soon joined by my father.

He walks in, securing his bathrobe and scratching his messy gray curls.

“What are you doing up?” I mumble.

“You’re making enough noise to wake a bear,” he grumbles, grabbing a mug out of the cupboard. “Figured you might want some company.”

I let out a soft snort and start scooping teaspoons of hot chocolate into the mug he just put down in front of me.

“Gotten any sleep yet?”

“Nah.” I shake my head.

“Didn’t think you’d be able to.” Dad sits on the kitchen stool with a sigh. “After everything you told Mum and me, I knew you’d be churning over it. You’ve always liked to stew. Even as a kid, you’d go brood in your room after an argument or upset. Nothing we did could ever coax you out of there, you stubborn little brat.” He winks at me, his grin killing my spark of annoyance.

The kettle pops, and I pour hot water into both mugs.

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