Page 93 of Just a Little White Lie

“I’m surprised Lauren wants to keep him around.”

“She’s convinced the rest of the crew look up to him. That they won’t dance unless he’s on the team. But I’m not sure I agree with that. There are other kids like Dante and Arlo who could carry them. But Lauren’s got her heart set on this Maverick kid. She wants to save him more than anyone else.”

“And that bothers you so much because…”

“I’m just worried she’ll get hurt in the process.”

Luke stills for a moment, studying my face before his lips start twitching with a grin. “Have a little faith, man. You’ve got to believe in her. She’s twenty-six.”

I give him my best deadpan glare while he cracks up laughing and swigs back another mouthful of beer.

LAUREN

Iget to school early in the hopes of catching Maverick before he leaves the boardinghouse. The stragglers are just finishing off their breakfast when I wander through the dining hall. A girl with mouse-brown hair and a broken reed look about her glances up at me, her eyebrows wrinkling with a frown before she buries her nose back into her book. Like literally. She pulls it up to cover her face, and I can’t help finding the behavior a little quirky and odd.

“Selah, hurry it up,” a man calls from the doorway, and she slowly lowers her book.

As soon as he can see her face, the man grins and taps his watch.

She glances at the clock on the wall, gasps, and shovels in the last of her cereal before jumping up from the table and rushing to clear her plate.

I approach the friendly looking man. “Hi there.”

“Hi.” He smiles at me, running fingers through his raggedy brown hair. “How can I help you this morning?”

“I’m looking for Maverick.”

His eyes narrow, and he crosses his arms. “And who are you?”

“Lauren Fillion. I’m his—”

“Dance coach.” The man’s face lights like I’m a celebrity he’s been wanting to meet. “He’s mentioned you. A lot of them have. You’re making quite the impression.”

The words warm me more than I can say, and I have to fight a grin when I point and ask, “And you are?”

He extends his hand, his broad smile practically sparkly. “Name’s Cal Sullivan, but everyone around here calls me Sully. I’m the senior boys’ house parent. I look after the Year Elevens and up.”

“Sully.” I smile, liking the nickname. “I bet the boys keep you on your toes.”

He snorts with laughter, letting go of my hand. “They certainly try to.” His smile starts to fade as he scratches the scruff on his chin. “You here about the fisticuffs in the quad yesterday?”

I nod. “It’s related to that. I’m just trying to keep Mav on the team.”

His eyebrows rise like he’s impressed with me, and I know I’m talking to an ally.

Even so, I double-check. “You know that fight yesterday wasn’t all Maverick’s fault. Ronan really provoked him.”

“Oh, for certain. That’s the usual drill, although I’m not supposed to say that.” He pulls a face that tells me he hates the injustice as much as I do. “Even so, Mav needs to control that temper of his. He’ll get there.”

“Yeah, he will.” I want to believe that so badly.

And I think Sully does too. He studies me with a closed-mouth smile, then goes ahead and makes my day. “I’ve noticed a change in him recently. Just little things. So, whatever you’re doing in that dance studio, keep it up.”

My smile grows a little wider, and emotion has stolen my voice, so I just mouth, “Thank you.”

He nods and points a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll go get him for ya.”

Sully wanders off, and I find a perch on the edge of a dining room chair.

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