Page 115 of Just a Little White Lie

Sound familiar?

Caustic memories from last year burn through me. I form two fists and know I can’t move right now.

I need more space.

A little brooding time.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

I’ll get to calm, and then we can talk it through. Like two mature adults.

I don’t know how I’m going to stomach her decision to lie about what happened with Maverick and let the kid get away with it. But I really don’t want to get into another argument with her.

So how do I make her see reason on this one?

My phone starts buzzing, and I reach for it automatically. It’s Mum, and I let out a heavy sigh. I should probably ignore it, but for some weird reason, I don’t.

“Hey.”

“Hey, big man. How are ya?”

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Yeah, good.”

“You don’t sound good. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.” I squirm on my bed, wondering how the heck this woman knows every single time. She can read me like a large-print book. It’s effortless for her.

Why’d you answer the phone, you big idiot?

I force a brightness I don’t feel. “What’s up?”

“Well, you just popped into my head, and I felt compelled to call you and tell you that I’m missing my boy. I was wondering if you’d be keen to come up for a meal this weekend.”

I can’t help a little grin. She’s always trying to get me back home. “I was just up there three weeks ago.”

“Yeah, three whole weeks ago,” she argues.

I laugh. “Is that all it is? You’re just missing your boy?”

“Well, I felt like I hardly got to see you. The house was overflowing with family, and we barely said two words before you were heading back to Cambridge. I need me some Jack time. Why don’t you come up and stay a night or two? You can have some decent chats with me and your dad.”

I have been fobbing her off lately. I haven’t wanted to be away from Lauren. I also haven’t told my parents about my new girlfriend yet. I was going to mention it when I went up for my sister’s party, but Mum’s right. The house was crowded, and I didn’t want my entire extended family knowing all my goss. Questions would have been fired at me faster than I could counter them. Besides, it was still too new at the time.

But maybe going up for a night and telling my parents about Lauren wouldn’t be a bad idea. Heck, they might even have some advice for me.

I glance at the door and quickly think it through.

“You know what? I’m actually free tomorrow after work. Why don’t I come up after my shift at the gym? I’ll stay the night and…” My voice trails off. Maybe I’ll stay two. If Lauren doesn’t want me at Dance-Mania, there’s no point being down here.

I specially took Wednesday off work so I could be there for her and the kids, but if I’m not welcome…

Closing my eyes, I try to ward of the sick feeling twisting my guts.

I wish I could spill it all over the phone right now. But I kind of want to tell my parents face-to-face.

I think they were both kind of relieved that I threw dance out the window after the Australian nightmare. They were hurting for me and knew I needed time to get back on my feet. But they’ll probably be ready to hear about it when I come up tomorrow. It’ll be good to lay it all bare, let them in, get their advice on this proposal at the gym… and my new girlfriend.

It’s probably not a bad thing for Lauren and me to have a little space.

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