Page 8 of Just a Little White Lie

I spin back with an air of dignity that I’m trying not to force. I have a right to try on shoes, dammit!

Pointing to the red stilettos, I tell him, “Just going to try those on.”

“Why?”

I give him my bestare you stupidlook. “Because I think they’ll look great on me.”

He scoffs. “And what happens if they do? You can’t afford those.”

My teeth clamp together as a string of expletives takes a quick train ride around my brain.

“I’m sorry to be the bad guy here, Lauren, but you need to get it into your head. Until you have enough money in your Savings envelope, you don’t get to buy anything.” He taps his finger against the glass. “Those shoes are not a necessity, they’re a want, so you have to save for them.”

My eyes are two narrow slits now, but my brother keeps on talking like he doesn’t notice.

“I’m just trying to help. Your control with money is… well, it’s nonexistent, and I’m trying to train you here.”

“I’m not a puppy,” I spit. “And I just want to try them on!”

“Why torture yourself? If you fall in love with them, you still have to walk out of the shop empty-handed.”

My nostrils flare, my mind flashing back to the hours I spent walking around London with my friends. We’d come home with piles of clothes and accessories we couldn’t afford. I was so happy then, and now I’m here, arguing in a small-town street with my big brother over a pair of red shoes.

Stupid envelopes.

“My suggestion is that you find yourself a job and quickly. The sooner you’re earning some money, the sooner you can come back for these shoes.” Luke smiles at me like he’s the smartest person on the planet and not Captain Obvious.

“It better pay well,” Jack quips, squinting at the price through the window.

My glare narrows even further. I didn’t know that was possible, but apparently it is. “Can’t you just move back to Australia?” I shake my head. “I’m sure your family of crocodiles is missing you.”

His eyebrows rise at my lame attempt at an insult, and then he starts laughing.

Grrr!

“Tinker Bell, you’re gonna have to do better than that. I’ll tell you what, I’ll move back to Australia and my family of crocs when you put together a résumé that can say more than ‘expert shopper’ and ‘money bleeder’ under Talents and Skills.”

I give him a disgusted look, but it just spurs him on.

“Hmmm… what can you put under Talent and Skills?” He taps his finger on his chin. “Thinking. Thinking.”

His goading is making my insides flare. Heat bursts through me in righteous spurts of rage, and I spin on my heel and start walking.

“Hey. Where are you going?” Luke calls.

“Back to your place!”

“What about the movie?” Mallory asks.

“See it without me!” I shout over my shoulder.

“It’ll take you an hour to walk home from here,” Luke reminds me.

“I don’t care.” I spin back to face him. “It’ll give me time to figure out what the hell I’m going to put on my résumé!” I give Jack a pointed look and resist the urge to flip him off like a spiteful teenager.

That’s how I feel right now. Like a teenager who’s just been grounded and denied phone privileges.

I can’t buy myself a frickin’ pair of shoes.

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